By: Branch H.R. No. 60
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A diamond wedding anniversary is truly cause for a
celebration, and on August 4, 2013, Dr. Charles Leon Branch and
Mrs. Sylvia Lee Boswell Branch of San Antonio marked this momentous
milestone in their marriage; and
WHEREAS, The couple met in Nashville, Tennessee, while
Dr. Branch, a native of Crockett County, Tennessee, was a student
at Vanderbilt University Medical School and the former Sylvia Lee
Boswell was enrolled at Peabody College; they were married on
August 4, 1953, in the bride's hometown of Lakeland, Florida; and
WHEREAS, Dr. and Mrs. Branch have exemplified the qualities
of leadership and outstanding citizenship for their five children,
18 grandchildren, and one great grandchild whom they have inspired
to achieve success, and return service to many, in their respective
fields of endeavor; their children and extended family include four
sons, Charles L. Branch, Jr., M.D., Chief of Neurosurgery at Wake
Forest University Baptist Memorial Hospital, and his wife, Lesa
W. Branch, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and their five
children, Byron, Daniel, Leslie, Courtney, and Emily Branch; Warren
B. Branch, D.D.S., 2011 Texas Dentist of the Year and past
president of the San Antonio Dental Society, and his wife Melissa
W. Branch of San Antonio; Daniel H. Branch, Esq., Chairman of the
Committee on Higher Education in the Texas House of Representatives
and shareholder of Winstead P.C., and his wife, Stacey S. Branch,
of Dallas, and their five children, Daniel Jr., Spencer, Catherine,
Charles, and Sarah Branch; and Alfred C. Branch, President/CEO of
the Moriah Real Estate Company L.L.C., and his wife, Judy
L. Branch, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Midland, and their two
children, Meagan and Lee Branch; and one daughter, Cynthia Lee
Branch Adams, and her husband, Donald F. Adams, M.D., a prominent
ophthalmologist, of San Antonio, and their six children, Henson,
Alexandra, Samantha, Harrison, Henry, and Sarah Adams; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Branch began her undergraduate education at
Florida Christian College, known today as Florida College, and she
went on to graduate from Peabody College, known today as a part of
Vanderbilt University; throughout her marriage, she has placed her
family at the top of her priority list as a dedicated homemaker
along with her service as a teacher at MacArthur Park Church of
Christ, while also becoming a respected civic leader and community
volunteer; a tireless helper at her children's schools, she served
as president of the PTA at Serna Elementary School, John Nance
Garner Middle School, and Douglas MacArthur High School in San
Antonio's Northeast ISD and has served the greater community as
well as president of the Bexar County Medical Society Auxiliary;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Branch attended Lipscomb College, known today
as Lipscomb University, and graduated from Vanderbilt University
and its medical school; he completed a neurosurgical residency at
the University of Chicago, received a fellowship to Montreal's
McGill University, and began his practice in neurosurgery at the
Montreal Neurological Institute under the service of Dr. Wilder
Penfield, one of North America's leading neurosurgeons at that
time; Dr. Branch was a clinical professor at McGill University and
at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and
a distinguished guest lecturer at the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, has been widely published on
a host of neurological and neurosurgical topics, and has further
distinguished himself as a member of the Society of University
Neurosurgeons, one of the earliest members of the Harvey Cushing
Society, now known as the American Association of Neurological
Surgeons (AANS), and the recipient of the 2004 AANS Humanitarian
Award for his medical mission work in Nigeria, Haiti and Guyana, as
the namesake for the Dr. Charles L. Branch Award at UT Dallas Brain
Health Center, and as vice chair of the board of trustees and
trustee emeritus of Oklahoma Christian University; and
WHEREAS, Throughout six decades of marriage, the Branches
have made their home in Chicago, Illinois; Montreal, Quebec,
Canada; and San Antonio, where they remain valued members of the
community; the couple are active members of the MacArthur Park
Church of Christ, where Dr. Branch is an elder, teacher, and
medical missionary, and Mrs. Branch is a longtime children's
teacher; in addition, she is an active board member of The Christian
Chronicle newspaper; Dr. Branch is the founder, and along with
Mrs. Branch, acts as general partner for the Branch Ranch holdings
in Geronimo; and
WHEREAS, Together, Dr. and Mrs. Branch have shared the
trials and triumphs of six decades, and it is a pleasure to join in
honoring their enduring union; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Charles
Leon Branch, Sr. and Mrs. Sylvia Lee Boswell Branch on the joyous
occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary and extend to them
sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. and Mrs. Branch as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.