H.R. No. 1811
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Artist and author Bill Rakocy of El Paso celebrated
  his 89th birthday on April 14, 2013, and a host of his friends and
  admirers gathered to honor this accomplished man; and
         WHEREAS, Born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1924, "Rak" Rakocy
  demonstrated his gift for drawing at an early age and went on to
  enroll at the Butler Institute of American Art, where tuition was 50
  cents per class; he continued pursuing his art as a member of the
  U.S. Navy in the Philip
  pines during World War II, painting
  portraits of his friends and shipping them home; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Rakocy subsequently earned both his bachelor's
  and master's degrees in fine arts at the Kansas City Art Institute;
  while there, he met Gloria Canterbury,  also a talented artist, who
  has been his wife and companion for more than six decades; together,
  they are the parents of five children; and
         WHEREAS, The couple lived in Ohio for 15 years before
  Mr. Rakocy accepted a position as chair of the fine arts program at
  the College of Artesia in New Mexico; in 1970, he was hired as
  curator of education and curator of collections at the El Paso
  Museum of Art, and he remained in those roles until his retirement
  in 1986; and
         WHEREAS, For many years, Mr. Rakocy has explored his
  fascination with the American Southwest in paintings and murals
  distinguished by a vivid, impressionistic style, depicting
  landscapes, industrial scenes, and episodes from history; in
  addition, he has authored a number of books on Southwestern
  history, including The Kid: Billy the Kid, Images: Paso del Norte,
  and Trails to Ruidoso; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Rakocy has likewise been a pillar of the El Paso
  arts community through his work with the International Museum of
  Art, the El Paso Art Association, and the Plein Air Painters of El
  Paso; moreover, he founded the Rio Bravo Watercolorists in 1971 and
  twice served as its president; and
         WHEREAS, Now on the threshold of his 90th year, Bill Rakocy
  continues to inspire and delight others with his distinctive talent
  and drive, and it is a pleasure to recognize him for 89 years of life
  well lived; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
  Legislature hereby congratulate Bill "Rak" Rakocy on his 89th
  birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
  happiness; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Mr. Rakocy as an expression of high regard by the Texas
  House of Representatives.
 
  Marquez
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 1811 was adopted by the House on May
  8, 2013, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House