H.R. No. 2195
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Cooke family of Rockdale is celebrating
100 years of consecutive ownership and operation of the
Rockdale Reporter on May 29, 2011; and
WHEREAS, John Esten Cooke purchased the Rockdale Reporter and
Messenger in May 1911, and he began working there on the 29th of
that month; the first edition produced under his leadership was
published on June 1; and
WHEREAS, The paper has since been passed down through three
generations of Mr. Cooke's descendants, including W. H. Cooke, his
son, J. W. "Bill" Cooke, his grandson, and Ken Esten Cooke and
Kathy Cooke Martin, his great-grandchildren, who together
oversee the Rockdale Reporter today; in addition, his
great-great-granddaughter, Katie Cooke-Garza, works at the paper
as a reporter; and
WHEREAS, One of the Lone Star State's most honored weekly
newspapers, the Rockdale Reporter has won sweepstakes from the
South Texas Press Association for the last four years in a row,
bringing its total to 14 in recent decades; and
WHEREAS, For 100 years, the Rockdale Reporter has served as a
vital resource for area residents, and its enduring success is a
testament to the business values and journalism standards that John
Esten Cooke established and on which his descendants have built;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Cooke family on 100 consecutive
years of ownership of the Rockdale Reporter and extend to them and
their staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Cooke family as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Schwertner
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2195 was adopted by the House on May
30, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House