TITLE: Congratulating Gene's Photos on its 50th anniversary and its receipt of a 2017 Texas Treasure Business Award.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Gene's Photos on its 50th anniversary and its receipt of a 2017 Texas Treasure Business Award.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, On the occasion of its 50th anniversary in 2017, Gene's Photos in Gainesville has been honored with a Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas Historical Commission; and WHEREAS, The Texas Treasure Business Award recognizes the contributions of Texas-based enterprises that have created jobs and enriched the state's economy for 50 years or more; and WHEREAS, Founder and owner Gene Brown received a Polaroid Swinger camera on his 10th birthday, sparking a lifelong passion for photography; in college, he won the Texas Collegiate Press Photography Award, and in February 1967, he started Gene's Photos, working as a photographer of weddings, family reunions, and portraits, and handling commercial and aerial photography; in the early years, his father helped with the developing and his mother did the books, and in 1975, his wife, Sherry, joined the business; and WHEREAS, The studio has relocated into larger quarters several times, and since 1987, Gene's Photos has been situated in the old First National Bank building on the Cooke County Courthouse square, where Mr. Brown now works with state-of-the-art digital technology; he has photographed many famous individuals over the years, including radio personality Paul Harvey, President Richard Nixon, movie legend John Wayne, and Miss America 1971, Phyllis George; and WHEREAS, Small businesses play a critical role in meeting the needs of area residents and sustaining the prosperity of the Lone Star State, and over the course of half a century, and more than 1,000 weddings, Gene's Photos has contributed to the social and economic fabric of Gainesville; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Gene's Photos on its 50th anniversary and its receipt of a 2017 Texas Treasure Business Award and extend to Gene and Sherry Brown sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Brown as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Springer Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 144 was adopted by the House on August 10, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House