H.R. No. 1171
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Eloise Smith Wilson of Bell County is celebrating
her 90th birthday on April 20, 2015, and this occasion provides a
welcome opportunity to remind her of the high regard in which she is
held by all who know her; and
WHEREAS, The former Helen Eloise Smith was born on April 20,
1925, to Tom Willie and Irene Jones Smith on a farm just west of
Belton, located along Nolan Creek; as part of a family of farmers
and longtime residents of Bell County, she spent most of her time
outdoors, playing with her sister and three brothers or helping to
harvest the cotton and corn; and
WHEREAS, Growing up during the Great Depression taught
Mrs. Wilson the value of perseverance at an early age; following
her graduation from Academy Consolidated High School, she moved to
Temple and obtained her first job at Power's Drug as a "soda jerk"
for a dollar a day; she went on to work at various other stores
before becoming a secretary for a high school principal, and she was
later employed by tax offices in both Bell and McLennan Counties;
and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Wilson eventually turned her hand to real
estate and became a broker in the Belton area, where she owned,
maintained, and managed single-family rental properties; at the age
of 50, she continued to expand her expertise and became a general
contractor, and her diligence and ability to make smart investments
helped her career flourish; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed woman, who was married to Billy Ed
Wilson for 35 years until his passing, has a son, Eddie, and two
daughters, Tammy and Ricci; a dedicated wife and mother who
supported her children in their church and school activities, she
also served as a member of the Parent-Teacher Association, a Cub
Scout Den Mother, and as vice president of the Bell County A&M
Mothers' Club; moreover, she volunteered for several years with the
Hospice Thrift Store, and she is a longtime, active member of the
First Baptist Church in Belton; blessed with a growing family, she
today enjoys the love and affection of six grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, In her leisure time, Mrs. Wilson has traveled widely
across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with family and
friends, with her adventures including a rafting trip through the
Grand Canyon when she was 70 years old; she has brought to all of her
endeavors, whether gardening and landscaping at her own home or
making improvements to rental properties, the same hard work and
determination that made her career in real estate so successful;
and
WHEREAS, A source of joy and inspiration to many people,
Eloise Smith Wilson may indeed reflect with great satisfaction on a
lifetime of achievement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Eloise Smith Wilson on her 90th
birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued
happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mrs. Wilson as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Smith
White of Bell
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1171 was adopted by the House on March
26, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House