H.R. No. 1922
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Friends and family are mourning the loss of Oscar
Hardy Smith of New Braunfels, who passed away on April 14, 2009, at
the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, Born in Arkansas on April 4, 1920, Oscar Smith
developed a love of sports as a youth and a lifelong devotion to the
Arkansas Razorbacks; he received a football scholarship to Ouachita
Baptist University, and while attending Ouachita, he married the
former Virginia Hudson; the couple would go on to raise two
children, Deb and Gary Bob, and welcome three grandchildren into
their family; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Smith answered his nation's call to duty with
enlistment in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he served on the
USS Helena, which was torpedoed and sunk, causing him to spend four
days in open water before being rescued, and the USS Houston, which
was torpedoed but stayed afloat; after the war, Mr. Smith returned
to finish his bachelor's degree at Ouachita and earned his master's
degree at Texas A&M University--Commerce; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman worked as a coach and
teacher at Edcouch-Elsa High School, where he was named Coach of the
Year in 1953; he subsequently served as principal at Edcouch-Elsa
and remained in that post for 11 years before accepting a similar
position in New Braunfels; and
WHEREAS, Active in civic matters, Mr. Smith was a longtime
member of the Lions Club and served as president of that
organization in 1969 and 1970; he was also a devoted congregant of
First Baptist Church of New Braunfels and a valued member of the
local Masonic Lodge; and
WHEREAS, Fortunate enough to find love a second time after
his first wife passed away, Mr. Smith married Lillian Kramer in
2000; and
WHEREAS, Oscar Smith touched countless lives through his
professional endeavors and tireless community service, and he will
forever be remembered with deep affection by those who held him
close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Oscar Hardy Smith and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
Lillian Kramer Smith; to his children, Deb Adams and her husband,
Fred, and Gary Bob Smith and his wife, Joann; to his grandchildren,
Chris Adams, Kelli Bernal, and Hudson Smith; to his sister, Velma;
and to his other relatives and friends; 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 Oscar Hardy
Smith.
Miller of Comal
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1922 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 14, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House