| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 30 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, May 2, 2023, marked the 100th anniversary of the |
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| 6 | 6 | | death of Lee J. Rountree, who rendered exceptional service to |
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| 7 | 7 | | Bryan, Brazos, and Grimes Counties as a member of the Texas House of |
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| 8 | 8 | | Representatives from 1921 to 1923; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born in Hays County on July 15, 1868, Leonidas |
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| 10 | 10 | | Johnson "Lee J." Rountree was the grandson of Alabama state senator |
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| 11 | 11 | | the Reverend Samuel Johnson; at the age of 11, he went to work at his |
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| 12 | 12 | | stepfather's newspaper business, and he later took over its |
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| 13 | 13 | | operation alongside his mother; he operated and acquired several |
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| 14 | 14 | | other publications in Georgetown and Sulphur Springs over the |
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| 15 | 15 | | course of his career, and he distinguished himself further by |
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| 16 | 16 | | serving as president of the National Editorial Association and as |
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| 17 | 17 | | secretary of the Southwest Press Association; he was also president |
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| 18 | 18 | | of the Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Kyle; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Rountree served as a representative at a number |
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| 20 | 20 | | of political conventions, and he was appointed as the tax |
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| 21 | 21 | | assessor-collector for Kyle in 1890, at the age of 21; he moved to |
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| 22 | 22 | | Bryan in 1920 and purchased a controlling interest in the Bryan |
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| 23 | 23 | | Eagle, becoming the publication's managing editor; that same year, |
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| 24 | 24 | | he made a successful bid for a seat in the House of Representatives, |
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| 25 | 25 | | and he went on to run for reelection unopposed in 1922; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, During his two terms of service, Representative |
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| 27 | 27 | | Rountree worked diligently for the good of his constituents; he |
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| 28 | 28 | | chaired the Conservation and Reclamation Committee and made further |
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| 29 | 29 | | contributions to committees on appropriations, taxation, and other |
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| 30 | 30 | | issues; he passed away while on the House floor on May 2, 1923, and |
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| 31 | 31 | | was buried in Bryan two days later; his widow, Frances Rountree, was |
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| 32 | 32 | | appointed to serve out his final term, and she later became the |
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| 33 | 33 | | first woman elected to represent Brazos County in the state |
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| 34 | 34 | | legislature, holding that office from 1931 to 1932; and |
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| 35 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Lee Rountree made a positive impact in the lives of |
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| 36 | 36 | | many Texans through his legislative and professional achievements, |
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| 37 | 37 | | and a century after his passing, he remains a source of great pride |
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| 38 | 38 | | to the community he faithfully served; now, therefore, be it |
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| 39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 40 | 40 | | Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby commemorate the 100th |
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| 41 | 41 | | anniversary of the death of the Honorable Lee J. Rountree and pay |
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| 42 | 42 | | tribute to his life and legacy. |
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| 43 | 43 | | Schofield |
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| 44 | 44 | | ______________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 46 | 46 | | I certify that H.R. No. 30 was adopted by the House on |
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| 47 | 47 | | November 17, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 48 | 48 | | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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