H.R. No. 964
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to
a close with the death of Ernest Zachary Clouser of Houston on
December 6, 2010, at the age of 88; and
WHEREAS, Ernest Clouser was born in Galveston on September
28, 1922, to John and Hazel Clouser; after graduating from Central
High School, he earned a bachelor's degree from Prairie View Normal
and Industrial College in 1943 and a master's degree from Texas
Southern University in 1952; he later undertook postgraduate
studies at Arizona State University; and
WHEREAS, For three decades, Mr. Clouser was an educator with
the Houston Independent School District; he was the first person to
head the commercial education department at Phillis Wheatley High
School, where he taught typing, bookkeeping, business law, and
stenography; he went on to serve as the assistant principal at
Burrus and Harper Junior High Schools, and in 1961 he was appointed
principal at Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School, a post he held
for nearly two decades before retiring in 1979; in addition to his
work in education, he was an insurance agent with Atlanta Life
Insurance in Galveston; and
WHEREAS, This dedicated civic leader served his community in
a variety of roles; he was a voter precinct judge, the chair of the
Transportation Committee for the Houston Citizens Chamber of
Commerce, the president of the Southwood Civic Club, and a member of
the board of Julius C. Hester House; a life member of the Knights of
St. Peter Claver and an honorary member of the Phillis Wheatley
Alumni Association, he was also active in the Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity, the Galveston Historical Society, the Texas Good
Roads/Transportation Association, the Prairie View Alumni
Association, the Houston Professional Administrators, and the
Harris County Council of Organizations; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Clouser enjoyed the
love and support of his wife, the former Margaret Phelps, and over
the course of their 67 years together, the couple was blessed with
two sons, Ernest and Joel, and seven grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Through hard work and an abiding concern for others,
Ernest Clouser made a significant contribution to the lives of his
fellow citizens, and he leaves behind a record of service that his
loved ones can remember with pride; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ernest Zachary
Clouser and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
family: to his wife, Margaret Phelps Clouser; to his sons, Ernest
Frederick Clouser and Joel C. Clouser and his wife, Gloria; to his
brothers, John Zachary Clouser and Gerald Zachary Clouser and his
wife, Izora; to his seven grandchildren and his
great-grandchildren; 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 Ernest
Zachary Clouser.
Coleman
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 964 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 7, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House