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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The people of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas |
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lost one of their most esteemed leaders with the death of Chief |
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Oscola Clayton Marion Sylestine on January 31, 2013, at the age of |
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80; and |
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WHEREAS, A third-generation descendant of Alabama-Coushatta |
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Sub-Chief Colabe, Clayton Marion Sylestine was born in 1932; he was |
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renamed "Mikko Oscola," meaning flute, in 1993 while serving as |
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second chief, and he was subsequently elected to the lifelong |
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office of principal chief by a unanimous vote; he ably fulfilled the |
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myriad duties of this pivotal role from his inauguration on January |
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1, 1995, until his passing; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Oscola previously volunteered his noted |
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leadership skills as an elected member of the Tribal Council for |
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five terms, including one as chairman, and he served as an elder in |
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the Indian Village Presbyterian Church; moreover, he worked |
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diligently to share the rich history and traditions of his culture |
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by speaking in local schools and making public appearances on |
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behalf of his tribe; he also advocated for federal recognition of |
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the tribe, which was reinstated in 1987; and |
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WHEREAS, Retired from Champion Paper International, where he |
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worked for 17 years, Chief Oscola pursued a number of traditional |
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crafts; he was a master of river cane basketry, which involved |
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harvesting and splitting bamboo-like cane and arranging it into |
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basket form, and he further distinguished himself in longleaf pine |
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needle basketry; in addition, he played for more than 30 years in |
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the fast-pitch softball circuit, earning a reputation for his |
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rising fastball; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his community, Chief Oscola made a |
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meaningful difference in the lives of his loved ones and fellow |
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citizens alike, and his contributions to the Alabama-Coushatta |
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Tribe of Texas will continue to resonate for years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Chief Oscola |
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Clayton Marion Sylestine and extend sincere sympathy to the members |
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of his family: to his wife, Ethelyn; to his two sons and two |
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daughters; to his many grandchildren; and to his other relatives |
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and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Chief |
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Oscola Clayton Marion Sylestine. |