H.R. No. 55
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Ernie Madsen of Mission, who at age 99 is thought to
be the oldest active Rotarian in Texas, was honored in a special
ceremony on May 12, 2011; and
WHEREAS, A member of Rotary International for nearly eight
decades, Mr. Madsen first joined the group in 1932; he has been
named a Paul Harris Fellow for his support of the organization and
its initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Born on November 22, 1911, Ernie Madsen moved to
Mission with his family in 1919 after previously living in
Minnesota; his father had come to the United States from Denmark in
1904, and the Madsens arrived in Texas with two other immigrant
families; an accomplished football and track athlete in high
school, Mr. Madsen later enrolled at The University of Texas at
Austin and played football on the freshman team under Coach Shorty
Anderson; he was also trained as a gymnast; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Madsen's remarkable life has included
challenges as well as achievements; while on a construction job in
Laredo in the early 1940s, he fell more than 30 feet onto concrete,
breaking both wrists and both legs but escaping more serious injury
thanks to his gymnastics skills; he also worked at the Hanford Site
in Washington State, which played an important role in the
construction of the country's early atomic weapons, and he was
employed in the dairy business until 1962; he then took a job with a
pipe supply company, remaining there for 28 years; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Madsen has enjoyed the
love and support of his wife, Kathleen, with whom he shared many
years of rewarding partnership until her passing in 2001, and his
son, John; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan is a source of wisdom and
inspiration to all who are privileged to know him, and it is a
pleasure to recognize him for his longtime contributions to Rotary
International and for almost a century of life well lived; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby honor Ernie Madsen for his
many years of service to Rotary International and extend to him
sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Madsen as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Gonzales of Hidalgo
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 55 was adopted by the House on June
28, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House