By: SaundersH.R. No. 74
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The passing of William Joseph Hlavinka on October 20, 1992, at the age of 65, has brought a great loss to the many friends, relatives, and colleagues of this distinguished Texan; and
WHEREAS, The son of Joseph and the late Annie Hlavinka, this outstanding businessman and civic leader was born on August 8, 1927, in East Bernard, Wharton County, where he remained a lifelong resident; it was from these smalltown roots that Mr.Hlavinka acquired his unwavering dedication to his country, state, industry, community, and family; and
WHEREAS, This patriotic American served with the United States Navy during World War II and with the Naval Reserves for six years after the war ended; in 1948 Mr.Hlavinka married his lovely fiancee, the former Mary Jo Novosad, at a ceremony held in Houston; and
WHEREAS, Soon after his marriage, this fine gentleman was graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural engineering and joined his family's farm implement business, the BoettcherHlavinka Company; under Mr. Hlavinka's able leadership, the company became the leading farm equipment dealer in the United States and has since expanded to establish successor and subsidiary firms that specialize in a wide variety of products and services such as fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, and construction; and
WHEREAS, Admired and respected by his colleagues, Mr.Hlavinka was renowned as a pioneer of modern agribusiness methods who helped to bring about innovative changes in the areas of agricultural finance, mechanization, and scientific farming in the Gulf Coast region; he also took the initiative in linking Texas agribusiness and investment interests with their counterparts in former East bloc nations; and
WHEREAS, Mr.Hlavinka was active in several community organizations, including the Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus; he also founded the East Bernard Chamber of Commerce, served on the Wharton County Tax Equalization Board, chaired the Wharton County Democratic Party during the Kennedy administration, and was an active member of the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University; and
WHEREAS, Committed to providing educational and professional opportunities for his community's young people, this preeminent civic leader was the founding director of the President's Council of the Wharton County Youth Fair and served on the board of trustees of Wharton County Junior College and the East Bernard Independent School District; a deeply religious man as well, he attended Holy Cross Catholic Church and was a friend of the First United Methodist Church of East Bernard; and
WHEREAS, Despite his many community and business endeavors, Mr.Hlavinka was above all else a devoted husband and father who enjoyed a happy and rewarding marriage for 43 years with his beloved wife, Mary Jo, until her passing in 1991, and who took great pride in the accomplishments of his five sons, Paul, Stephen, Tobias, Christopher, and Timothy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of William Joseph Hlavinka and extend profound sympathy to the members of his family: to his sons and daughtersinlaw, Paul Hlavinka of Houston, Stephen J. Hlavinka of East Bernard, Christopher J. Hlavinka of Los Angeles, Tobias and Rhonda Hlavinka of East Bernard, and Dr. Timothy Hlavinka and Leslie Hlavinka of San Antonio; to his grandchildren, Byron, Heidi, and Nathan of East Bernard and Margaret, Matthew, Katherine, and Andrew of San Antonio; to his father, Joseph C. Hlavinka, Sr., of East Bernard; to his brothers and sistersinlaw, Victor F. Hlavinka and Charles and Betty Hlavinka, all of Texarkana, and Joseph C. Hlavinka, Jr., and Patty Hlavinka of East Bernard; to his sisters and brothersinlaw, Donna Schier of San Antonio, and Carol Ann and David Powitzky of Pasadena; to his sistersinlaw and their husbands, Pauline Graves of East Bernard, Frances and Thomas Cordelle of Houston, and Lucille and Willard Coody of Weatherford; and to his many other friends and relatives; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of William Joseph Hlavinka.