Bill Text: TX HR2300 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating Oleta Smith of Dumas on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-31 - Reported enrolled [HR2300 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR2300-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2300 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed | ||
| cause for celebration, and Oleta Smith of Dumas is marking this | ||
| momentous milestone in her life on June 20, 2017; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born to Edwin and Elizabeth Thornton in 1917, on a | ||
| farm outside of Lockney, the former Oleta Thornton graduated from | ||
| high school in 1935 and married her sweetheart, Ben Smith, the | ||
| following year; they became the proud parents of a daughter, | ||
| Dorotha Evylena, and a son, James Warren; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Smiths farmed in Floyd County before acquiring a | ||
| gasoline distributorship in Hart; during Mr. Smith's career in the | ||
| petroleum industry, they lived in a number of different Texas | ||
| communities, including Dumas and Texas City, as well as in New | ||
| Mexico and Utah; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship of | ||
| more than 51 years before Mr. Smith's passing; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Sustained by a deep faith, Mrs. Smith served as a | ||
| church secretary and Sunday school teacher; she also sang in the | ||
| choir and gave generously of her time and talents to many women's | ||
| mission groups; a charter member of the Utah Idaho Southern Baptist | ||
| Convention, she was a state officer of the WMU organization; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith is thought to be the oldest Gold Star | ||
| Mother in Texas; in honor of her son, who was killed in action | ||
| during the Vietnam War, she represented the families of the fallen | ||
| at both the groundbreaking for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans | ||
| Memorial and the monument's dedication; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Devoted to her family, Mrs. Smith enjoys spending | ||
| time with her daughter and son-in-law, Dick Waldren, her | ||
| grandchildren, Debra and David, and her great-grandchildren, Ben | ||
| and Hadley; she was recently honored as the oldest volunteer at the | ||
| Moore County Hospital District gift shop, and in her free time, she | ||
| enjoys reading, playing cards and dominoes, and watching the Texas | ||
| Rangers and Dallas Cowboys on television; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Oleta Smith has met life's challenges with | ||
| resilience and determination, and she is a source of tremendous | ||
| inspiration to all who are fortunate enough to know her; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby congratulate Oleta Smith on the joyous occasion | ||
| of her 100th birthday and recognize her as a Texas Treasure; and, be | ||
| it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Mrs. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
| House of Representatives. | ||
| Price | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2300 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 25, 2017, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
