H.R. No. 448
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Tom Sefcik Hall in Bell County is celebrating its
100th anniversary in April 2023, providing a welcome opportunity to
honor the legacy of this storied dance hall; and
WHEREAS, Built in 1923 by Tom T. Sefcik, the dance hall became
a centerpiece of the small community of Seaton; Mr. Sefcik and his
wife, Tracy, raised their two daughters, Adela and Alice, in the
two-story house he constructed next door to the dance hall; in the
absence of electricity, he put in a battery lighting system for the
hall, and in the 1950s, refrigerated beer coolers replaced the
ice-filled troughs that previously kept beverages cold; in the late
1960s, indoor bathrooms and propane heat were installed; and
WHEREAS, Alice Sulak took over ownership of the dance hall in
1970 from her father, who passed away the following year; she
greeted patrons, oversaw finances, and booked bands, and from her
station on the upstairs wooden dance floor, she even yelled drink
orders down a vertical dumbwaiter shaft to the bar below; a
community gathering place since its inception, the dance hall has
earned a reputation for hosting well-known performers, including
Jimmy Heap, Asleep at the Wheel, Gary P. Nunn, Johnny Rodriguez, and
Rusty Wier; and
WHEREAS, In 2019, the Texas Dance Hall Preservation
organization presented Mrs. Sulak with its Lifetime Achievement
Award; she managed Sefcik Hall until her passing in 2022, and today,
the business is owned and operated by her son Kenny Sulak and his
wife, Irene; and
WHEREAS, Over the past century, Sefcik Hall has contributed
greatly to the cultural tapestry of the Lone Star State, and it is
indeed a pleasure to join in marking this special milestone in its
rich history; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tom Sefcik
Hall and extend to all those associated with the dance hall sincere
best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the dance hall as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Shine
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 448 was adopted by the House on March
16, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House