H.R. No. 1717
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The death of Elna Ray Christopher of Austin on
April 25, 2023, at the age of 72, has deeply saddened the family and
friends of this admired woman; and
WHEREAS, Born in Brownfield on October 5, 1950, Elna
Christopher was the daughter of Bertie Lee Daniell Christopher and
Willie Ray Christopher; after graduating from Brownfield High
School, she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism with a
concentration in criminal justice from Southern Methodist
University; she was employed as a reporter at the Delta
Democrat-Times in Greenville, Mississippi, and the Santa Fe
Reporter in New Mexico before joining the Dallas Morning News in
1977; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Christopher's career took a new trajectory in
1982, when Jim Mattox hired her as a press secretary during his run
for Texas attorney general; following his election, she served as
chief of public information during both of his terms, and she acted
as spokesperson for his subsequent gubernatorial campaign; from
1991 to 1992, she was a partner at Image Makers Advertising & Public
Relations; and
WHEREAS, Returning to state government in 1994,
Ms. Christopher became director of marketing and program
development in the Texas General Land Office; she was later named
director of outreach programs, and she was instrumental in the
creation, development, and marketing of the Adopt-A-Map program; in
2003, she was hired as director of media relations for the Texas
Association of Counties; over the next 13 years in that role, she
worked with a coalition of city and county organizations to help
strengthen local control; throughout her career, she was known for
her generosity, as well as her toughness; when she retired in 2016,
members of the press lauded her grace, skill, and professionalism;
and
WHEREAS, Ms. Christopher shared a fulfilling marriage of
almost 25 years with Kevin Michael Kennedy until his death in 2013;
a woman of deep compassion, especially for members of the animal
kingdom, she loved horses, never missed a Triple Crown race series,
and took tender care of her two cats, Alfred and Satchel; her many
interests included movies, museums, fine dining, shopping at Neiman
Marcus, Major League Baseball, travel, historic Texas maps, and
music from Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett to the Rolling Stones; and
WHEREAS, Although Elna Christopher will be greatly missed,
she has left her family and friends with a wealth of memories that
they will forever treasure; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Elna Ray
Christopher and that sincere sympathy be extended to the members of
her family: to her sister, Donna Christopher Ingham; to her nephew,
Christopher Young Ingham; and to her other relatives and many
friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Elna
Christopher.
Flores
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1717 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 25, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House