H.R. No. 2889
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The citizens of Wichita Falls lost a cherished
member of the community with the passing of Elizabeth Perkins
Prothro on May 23, 2009, at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, The daughter of prominent local residents Joe J.
Perkins and Lois Craddock Perkins, Mrs. Prothro graduated from
Wichita Falls High School and earned a bachelor's degree from
Southern Methodist University; she married Charles Nelson Prothro
in 1938, and the couple lovingly raised four children, Joe, Mark,
Kay, and the late Vin Prothro; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Prothro was a generous, lifelong supporter of
the First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls and a champion of
higher education; she endowed scholarships in a variety of
disciplines at Midwestern State University, where she also served
on the board of regents, and she continued her family's tradition of
philanthropy in behalf of Southern Methodist University; her
donations to SMU included a gift of $6 million in 2007 to fund
building renovations and an addition to the Perkins School of
Theology; in addition, she served on the SMU Board of Governors and
on the seminary's executive board; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Prothro's other charitable interests included
the Wichita Falls Museum and Art Center, of which she was a founding
member, and the River Bend Nature Center, site of the Elizabeth
Prothro Pavilion; in her free time, she enjoyed photography, and
her talent earned her work a place in private and university
collections; and
WHEREAS, A gracious and caring woman, Elizabeth Prothro is
deeply missed but will long be remembered for her generous support
of scholarship, her devotion to her faith, and her gifts to make
this world a better place; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Elizabeth Perkins
Prothro and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family:
to her sons, Mark and Joe Prothro; to her daughter, Kay Yeager; to
her 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and
great-great-grandchild; and to her other relatives and many
friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Elizabeth
Perkins Prothro.
Farabee
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2889 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on June 1, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House