H.R. No. 3130
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dorothy Craver of Jefferson celebrated her 103rd
birthday on February 28, 2015, to the delight of her innumerable
admirers; and
WHEREAS, Born on February 29, 1912, during a leap year, the
former Dorothy Tennelle Brown began her education in Jefferson and
went on to graduate from high school in Fort Worth; she held a
number of interesting jobs, working as a magician's assistant and
as the only female staffer at the Jefferson Jimplecute newspaper;
following her marriage to an air force officer, Kenneth Craver, in
1945, she moved to a base in England and worked in the legal
department as a staff judge advocate; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Craver was employed by the air force as a
civilian during her husband's long military career, and her sense
of adventure served her well during their many years overseas; at
their last duty station in Panama, she learned Spanish, and she
seized the opportunity to travel on the Amazon River and explore the
rain forest as well; the couple retired in 1972 and returned to
Jefferson, where they restored the home built in 1885 by her
maternal grandfather, Captain Charles Gibbs Graham; in addition,
Mrs. Craver returned to journalism as a community columnist; and
WHEREAS, In the 1990s, Mrs. Craver became president of the
Opera House Theatre Players, collaborating with her daughter,
Marcia Thomas, the artistic and managing director; their production
of the Richard Rodgers musical I Remember Mama caught the attention
of the composer's daughter, writer and composer Mary Rodgers
Guettel, and she became a sponsor of the company; on Mrs. Craver's
100th birthday, both Ms. Guettel and noted puppeteer Jim Gamble
made generous grants to the theater in her honor; and
WHEREAS, Still residing in the home where she, her
great-grandmother, her mother, and her daughter were all born, this
remarkable centenarian maintains her own Facebook page, and she
continues to serve as president of the community theater group;
through her involvement, she has greatly benefited the arts scene
in Jefferson, and she is a source of tremendous joy and inspiration
to all who are fortunate enough to know her; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dorothy Craver on her 103rd
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. Craver as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Paddie
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 3130 was adopted by the House on May
30, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House