H.R. No. 2700
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Ralph L.
D. Essary of Ennis, who died on January 26, 2009, at the age of 79;
and
WHEREAS, Ralph Essary was born in Bonham on March 26, 1929, to
Douglas and Lucille Essary; in 1941, he moved to Ennis, where he
played football for Ennis High School, beginning a lifelong
devotion to the game and to the Ennis Lions; and
WHEREAS, After graduating in 1947, he became an apprentice
mechanic for Southern Pacific Railroad; he married Ruby Marie
Calhoun in 1948, and the following year the couple moved to Austin,
where Mr. Essary worked as a mechanic for Southern Pacific for 12
years; in 1962, he and his family returned to Ennis, and he
continued to work for Southern Pacific until his retirement in
1991, after 44 years with the railroad; and
WHEREAS, A well-respected member of the Ennis community, Mr.
Essary was a 32nd degree Mason and a founding member of the Sunbeam
Club for retired railroad employees; he was active in Helping Hands
of Ennis and volunteered at the Railroad and Cultural Heritage
Museum; for 15 years, he wrote a weekly column, "Ramblin' with
Ralph," for the Ennis Daily News, always carrying a notebook and
pencil with him to capture details for a column; he loved fishing,
and he looked forward to his annual trips to Rockport and New
Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Essary remained involved in athletics for much
of his life, coaching football and baseball and umpiring Little
League games as a young man; when he lived in Austin, he served as a
football official and was a member of the Southwest Conference
Football Officials Association; and
WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, he was a deacon and Sunday
school superintendent at the Northwest Baptist Church in Austin and
a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and committee member for the
Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis; Mr. and Mrs. Essary also worked
as mentors for Friendship Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Essary was a warmhearted, loyal, and generous
man who was devoted to his family, his faith, and his community, and
memories of him will forever live in the hearts of all who knew and
loved him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ralph L. D. Essary and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife
of 60 years, Ruby Essary; to his son, Derry Essary, and his wife,
Ann; to his brothers, Don, Ray, and Glen Essary; to his
grandchildren, Bryce Essary and his wife, Elisabeth, Jordan Essary
and his wife, Melissa, and Adair Essary and her fianc, Brad Flynt;
to his great-grandchildren, Jaxson, Gunner, and Skylar Essary; 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 Ralph
Essary.
Pitts
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2700 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 31, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House