Bill Text: TX HR628 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Dr. Thomas Daniel Franks of Nacogdoches.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-22 - Reported enrolled [HR628 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR628-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 628 | ||
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| WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the | ||
| death of Thomas Daniel Franks of Nacogdoches on December 31, 2018, | ||
| at the age of 86; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The son of Bernard and Anna Franks, Thomas Franks | ||
| was born in Stockman on January 29, 1932; he graduated from Stephen | ||
| F. Austin State University and went on to earn a master's degree in | ||
| education from the University of Houston and a doctoral degree in | ||
| education from Indiana University Bloomington; early in his career, | ||
| he was an elementary teacher and assistant principal in the | ||
| Brazosport Independent School District, and he later taught at | ||
| Westminster College and Bible Institute in Tehuacana, Fairview | ||
| Elementary School in Bloomington, and Oklahoma State University in | ||
| Stillwater; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dr. Franks joined the faculty of SFASU in the early | ||
| 1960s, and he served as department chair and dean of education; he | ||
| was instrumental in the establishment of a doctoral program in | ||
| educational leadership and the SFA/NISD Charter School; active in | ||
| many professional associations, he was the recipient of myriad | ||
| accolades, including both the Distinguished Professor and | ||
| Distinguished Alumnus awards from SFASU; he also benefited the | ||
| wider community in numerous leadership roles, among them trustee of | ||
| Nacogdoches ISD; following his retirement in 2000, he served on the | ||
| boards of the Timpson Area Genealogical and Heritage Society and | ||
| the Shady Grove Cemetery Association; he was a valued member of | ||
| First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches for more than a half | ||
| century; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, Dr. Franks shared a rewarding | ||
| relationship with his wife, Dorothy Smith Franks, that spanned 63 | ||
| years; he was the father of five children, Thomas Franks Jr., who | ||
| preceded him in death, and Carl Franks, Luanna Adams, Scott Franks, | ||
| and Rhonda Richardson, and he took great pride in his | ||
| grandchildren, Jamie and Shawn Askey, Randy and Kaylee Franks, | ||
| Whitney and James Frazier, Meredith and Jerry Fehlker, Seth and | ||
| Kalyn Franks, Anna and Hollis Smith, and Jessica, Jenna, and | ||
| Katelyn Richardson, as well as his great-grandchildren, Kayne and | ||
| Klaire Askey, Jolee Grace Conner, Jack Fehlker, and Addilyn Franks; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, While the death of Thomas Franks brings great | ||
| sadness to his family and friends, he leaves behind a legacy that | ||
| will long resonate in the Nacogdoches community; now, therefore, be | ||
| it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Thomas Daniel | ||
| Franks and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; | ||
| and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
| Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Thomas | ||
| Franks. | ||
| Clardy | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 628 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on March 21, 2019. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
