H.R. No. 2636
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Norman F. Porter, Sr., has contributed to our
knowledge of the Lone Star State and its rich heritage through his
authorship of Atascosa County History through 1912; and
WHEREAS, Published in 2007, Atascosa County History has
received excellent reviews for its recounting of the compelling
story of this South Texas county; Mr. Porter used a vast number of
primary sources to explore such events as the bitter fight that
erupted in 1910 over the relocation of the county seat, requiring
the dispatch of two Texas Rangers to keep the peace among quarreling
factions; moreover, the book's nearly 400 pages include numerous
previously unpublished images; and
WHEREAS, The son of Ruby and Wilber Porter, Norman Porter was
born in North Pleasanton on March 4, 1933, and grew up in Atascosa
County; he attended Southwest Texas State College on a football
scholarship and served his country in the U.S. Army for three years
before earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in education;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Porter began his 35-year career at Pleasanton
Junior High School in 1956; after coaching and teaching history, he
became an administrator and retired as principal of the junior
high; he was named Man of the Year in 1990 by the Pleasanton Chamber
of Commerce and was inducted into the Pleasanton High School
Athletic Hall of Fame; since his retirement, he has traveled to
antique shows in other states as a postcard dealer and has assembled
an extensive personal collection of cards featuring vintage
photographs of small South Texas towns; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Mr. Porter was named Senior Citizen of the
Year by the chamber of commerce for his noteworthy achievements; he
has done extensive research on the San Antonio, Uvalde, and Gulf
Railroad and served as president of the Longhorn Museum Society for
10 years, helping to restore the SAU&G Railroad Depot and obtain a
Union Pacific caboose for exhibition; in addition, he is a member of
the Texas State Historical Association, and he has served as chair
of the county historical commission, president of the Pleasanton
Cemetery Association, and vice president of the 2006 Atascosa
Sesquicentennial Committee; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed author and historian gives
informative talks to civic clubs and elementary school students and
has been instrumental in obtaining Texas Historical Markers for
such sites as the graves of former Texas Rangers; in addition, he
has helped many visitors to Pleasanton locate the burial places of
their ancestors; in his myriad endeavors, he enjoys the love and
support of his wife, Iris Porter, and their son, Norman,
daughter-in-law, Amy, and four grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Norman Porter has played a vital role in chronicling
and preserving the fascinating history of Atascosa County in his
comprehensive book as well as through his years of dedicated
service to historical organizations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Norman F. Porter, Sr., on the
publication of Atascosa County History through 1912 and commend him
for his many contributions to historical preservation and
education; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Porter as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Gonzalez Toureilles
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2636 was adopted by the House on May
31, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House