Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HR2806 Compare Versions

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1	1	H.R. No. 2806
2	2
3	3
4	4	R E S O L U T I O N
5	5	WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a passionate leader and
6	6	dynamic trailblazer with the death of the Honorable Richard F.
7	7	Williamson on December 30, 2007, at the age of 55; and
8	8	WHEREAS, Born on January 25, 1952, in Abilene, the county
9	9	seat of Taylor County, Ric Williamson attended The University of
10	10	Texas at Austin and married a fellow Longhorn, the former Mary Ann
11	11	Welsch, in 1973; he earned his bachelor's degree the following
12	12	year, and the couple went on to settle in Weatherford; they shared a
13	13	rewarding relationship and Mr. Williamson always took great pride
14	14	in his family; they raised three beautiful daughters, Melissa,
15	15	Katherine, and Sara, and later welcomed two grandchildren into the
16	16	family; and
17	17	WHEREAS, Mr. Williamson founded RAW Energy with two partners
18	18	and later he and Mrs. Williamson established MKS Consulting
19	19	Corporation, which continues in operation today; in his leisure
20	20	time, Mr. Williams was an avid hunter and also enjoyed supporting
21	21	women's fast-pitch softball; and
22	22	WHEREAS, Caring deeply about the well-being of his community
23	23	and his state, Mr. Williamson began his public service in 1985, when
24	24	residents of Parker and Wise Counties elected him to the Texas House
25	25	of Representatives; during his 14 years as representative for
26	26	District 61, he served on a number of legislative committees and as
27	27	vice chair of appropriations; in this role, Mr. Williamson became
28	28	fondly known as one of the "Pit Bulls," conservative lawmakers who
29	29	seriously questioned how the state spent its money; Mr. Williamson
30	30	believed strongly that funding should be tied to the setting and
31	31	meeting of goals, a process now known as performance budgeting; his
32	32	professional and legislative accomplishments earned him many
33	33	awards through the years, and he was particularly proud of his
34	34	recognition as one of the state's Ten Best Legislators by Texas
35	35	Monthly magazine in both 1989 and 1991; and
36	36	WHEREAS, Although Mr. Williamson left the legislature in
37	37	1998, he remained committed to making a positive difference in his
38	38	state, and soon returned to Austin at the request of a fellow house
39	39	member and close friend, Governor Rick Perry; in 2001, Governor
40	40	Perry appointed him to serve on the Texas Transportation
41	41	Commission, and in January 2004, Mr. Williamson was named its
42	42	chair, a position he held for the rest of his life; as chair, Mr.
43	43	Williamson became the state's greatest advocate for improving the
44	44	transportation system by "thinking big, planning large, and
45	45	executing huge"; and
46	46	WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan fought tirelessly on the federal,
47	47	state, and local levels to bring attention to the urgent necessity
48	48	of acting immediately in order to meet our future transportation
49	49	needs; through his steadfast leadership, Texas gained a strategic
50	50	plan with goals to reduce congestion, improve safety, expand
51	51	economic opportunity, increase the value of assets along its
52	52	highway system, and improve the state's air quality; and
53	53	WHEREAS, Mr. Williamson will be long remembered for proposing
54	54	and realizing ambitious solutions to the state's longstanding
55	55	transportation challenges, and for the lasting effect of his
56	56	efforts to empower local leaders to make local transportation
57	57	decisions; he approached all his endeavors with remarkable
58	58	determination, discipline, and strength, and he drew a circle of
59	59	close friends and admirers, enhancing their lives with his
60	60	friendship and loyalty; and
61	61	WHEREAS, Although it is impossible to measure the full effect
62	62	of one man's life, through his dedication to the people of Texas,
63	63	Ric Williamson left an inspiring legacy that will continue to shape
64	64	the state's infrastructure and contribute to its prosperity for
65	65	years to come; now, therefore, be it
66	66	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
67	67	Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the memory of the
68	68	Honorable Richard F. Williamson, and extend sincere sympathy to all
69	69	who mourn his loss; and, be it further
70	70	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
71	71	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
72	72	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Richard F.
73	73	"Ric" Williamson, former state representative and chair of the
74	74	Texas Transportation Commission.
75	75	Kuempel
76	76	______________________________
77	77	Speaker of the House
78	78	I certify that H.R. No. 2806 was unanimously adopted by a
79	79	rising vote of the House on June 1, 2009.
80	80	______________________________
81	81	Chief Clerk of the House