81R12136 BPG-D
By: Craddick H.R. No. 818
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Ruth and John Alan Hord of Midland shared a life rich
with family, faith, and community, and they are deeply missed since
the passing of Mr. Hord on May 11, 2008, and of Mrs. Hord on November
27, 2008, both at the age of 91; and
WHEREAS, The former Ruth Waldrop was born in Gilmer County on
December 30, 1916, and lived with her family in San Antonio, Dallas,
Washington, D.C., Tennessee, Mexico, and New York City before
enrolling in Oak Cliff High School, where she met her future
husband; and
WHEREAS, A Dallas native, J. A. Hord was born on February 21,
1917, not far from where his great-grandparents had settled during
the Texas Republic; he and his future wife both began studying
geology at North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington, and Mrs.
Hord later worked her way through The University of Texas at Austin,
while he did the same at Oklahoma University; the couple married in
1938, and Mrs. Hord graduated magna cum laude with a degree in
geology the following year; Mr. Hord earned his bachelor's degree
in geological engineering in 1940, and they both pursued graduate
studies at OU until Gulf Oil offered Mr. Hord a position as a
geologist in the Permian Basin; and
WHEREAS, The couple became the parents of three children, and
Mr. Hord's field work and positions of increasing responsibility
took the family to Dallas, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, and Wichita
Falls, and then back to Midland; Mrs. Hord served as a homeroom
mother, PTA member, Sunday school teacher, and Girl Scout leader,
and not only supported her children's participation in numerous
activities but also turned picnics into fossil-hunting expeditions
and car trips into lessons on history, geography, and natural
science; and
WHEREAS, In 1960, Mr. Hord became general manager of
exploration for Gulf's Southwest Division, a position he held until
his retirement in 1979; he subsequently built a successful
independent practice on his strong record of oil and gas
discoveries; a member of several professional associations, he
served on the advisory council for the OU School of Geology and
Geophysics for many years and was a member of the industry committee
that assisted Texas Tech University in obtaining certification for
its petroleum engineering department; and
WHEREAS, This adventurous couple traveled widely after their
children were grown, visiting many countries in Europe and in
Central and South America; in addition, they joined a 4,000-mile
geological expedition to the major oil fields of China; Mrs. Hord
was a member of the Texas Historical Association, the Midland
County Historical Society, the Midland Genealogical Society, and
the Daughters of the American Revolution, and in his retirement,
Mr. Hord joined in her research efforts in county courthouses
across the South; and
WHEREAS, Valued members of the First Presbyterian Church of
Midland, the Hords both gave generously of their time and talents to
their community and church; Mrs. Hord was an International House
hostess and member of the church women's circle; Mr. Hord was an
elder and served on the board of Midland Park and on municipal
committees for school curricula, the city water supply, and other
matters; moreover, he was on the Midland Salvation Army board and
the executive and advisory boards of the local Boy Scouts of America
council; and
WHEREAS, Throughout their seven decades together, Ruth and
John Alan Hord shared a zest for life and a curiosity about the
world around them, and they will long be remembered for their
devotion to their family and to each other; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the lives of Ruth and John Alan
Hord and extend sincere sympathy to the members of their family: to
their daughters, Elaine Hutchinson and her husband, Frederick, and
Melinda Reaves and her husband, Charles; to their son, Thomas Alan
Hord and his wife, Nancy; to their grandchildren, David and Paul
Hutchinson, Arianna Reaves, Bonnie Gillespie, Susan Herman, Mary
Tucker, and John Alan Hord II; to their seven great-grandchildren;
to Mrs. Hord's sister and brother, Molly Lara and Thomas Waldrop,
and to their other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for their family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruth and
John Alan Hord.