81R6613 JKB-D
By: Kleinschmidt H.R. No. 469
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A landmark institution in the Fayette County
business community commemorates a milestone in 2009 as Koenig &
Strickland Funeral Home celebrates its centennial; and
WHEREAS, The company was founded in May 1909 by August
Koenig, one of the state's first licensed embalmers; in 1924, Mr.
Koenig formed a partnership with Louis H. Mueller, and the business
they operated in downtown La Grange was originally known as Koenig
and Mueller Funeral Directors and Embalmers; it was renamed Koenig
Funeral Home in 1928, when Gilbert Koenig, August Koenig's son,
bought Mr. Mueller's stake in the company; Gilbert Koenig went on to
direct the funeral home for 40 years and also won several
appointments and elections, serving 19 years on the La Grange City
Council, a two-year term as the city's mayor, and three years as
chair of the State Board of Morticians; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, Gilbert Koenig sold the business to Billy
Peel, who operated it as the Koenig-Peel Funeral Home; in 1997, it
became the Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home, and the enterprise now
includes three satellite offices, Jecmenek Chapel in Ellinger,
Knesek Chapel in Fayetteville, and Zaskoda Chapel in Industry, in
addition to the main location in La Grange; although a 1999 fire
claimed the iconic Art Deco building that once housed the La Grange
location, the company rebuilt on the footprint of the original
structure and remains a respected member of the city's business
community; and
WHEREAS, Coinciding with the firm's centennial is the
appointment of a new general manager, Robert J. Falcon, who draws on
more than two decades of experience in the funeral industry; under
his direction, Koenig & Strickland is beginning its second century
of providing dedicated service to the communities that it serves,
and this venerable company is indeed deserving of recognition
during this momentous anniversary year; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home on the
occasion of its centennial and extend to the management and staff
sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the company as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.