81R32703 JKB-D
By: Merritt H.R. No. 3137
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Tyler lost a respected businessman and
treasured member of the community with the death of Walden P.
Little, who passed away on May 6, 2009, at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, Born in Limestone County on March 14, 1920, to
Wilmer and Georgia Cates Little, "Red" Little graduated from
Grosbeck High School and Westminster Junior College; he answered
his nation's call to duty with service in the U.S. Army Air Corps
during World War II and moved to Tyler in 1950; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Little purchased a small insurance company in
1954 and established it in Tyler as the East Texas Life and Accident
Insurance Company; business went well, and in 1965 the firm changed
its name to the Combined Underwriters Life Insurance Company and
continued its growth; by the turn of the 21st century, it had 35,000
customers and 64 employees and held in force more than $80 million
in insurance; the company merged with Citizens Inc., an Austin
holding company, in 2002; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his distinguished career, Mr.
Little served as president of Texas Association of Life
Underwriters and the Texas Legal Reserve Officials Association; he
was twice elected to the Tyler City Commission and also twice served
a six-month term as the city's mayor; he was a director of Rotary
International and the founder of the Reading Enrichment and
Development Program at First Christian Church, where he was a
longtime member; moreover, he gave generously to Tyler Junior
College, Texas College, and The University of Texas at Tyler; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Little enjoyed the love
and support of his family, which includes his wife, Kim, a daughter,
Regina, and a son-in-law, Mark, as well as four grandchildren and
four great-grandchildren; Mrs. Little joined her husband in
philanthropic projects, and in 2004, the couple funded the
establishment of the Red and Kim Little Healthy Aging Lecture
Series; its annual presentations in Tyler continue to help senior
Texans lead robust lives; and
WHEREAS, Red Little was a man of vision, compassion, and
limitless good humor who endeared himself to all he met with his
positive outlook and creativity; although he will be deeply missed,
his legacy of skilled business leadership and civic service will
long resonate in the Tyler community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Walden P. Red Little
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
wife, Kim Little; to his daughter, Regina Rooney, and her husband,
Mark; to his grandchildren, Laura, Stacye, Shannon, and Cameron; to
his great-grandchildren; to his brother, W. Sherill Little; and to
his other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Red Little.