81R10616 MG-D
By: Hughes H.R. No. 581
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 70th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed
cause for celebration, and William Dair Power of Marshall is
commemorating this important milestone on February 23, 2009; and
WHEREAS, In 1939, "Buddy" Power was born to Earl Dair and
Irene Power in Harrison County, where six generations of the Power
family have lived; as a young boy of 12, he was spared from a fatal
automobile accident and he committed his life to Christ; he began
working at an early age and went on to graduate from Marshall High
School in 1958, immediately joining the Texas Highway Department as
a party chief and later working in engineering; he answered his
nation's call to duty and served in the U.S. Army until 1962; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Power was employed by ALCOA as a Planner during
the 1960s, and in 1972 he followed in his father's footsteps and
entered the grocery business, becoming the owner and operator of
Power Grocery; he later organized rural transportation and Meals on
Wheels service for citizens all across Northeast Texas; seeing his
neighbors in need of water service, Mr. Power purchased Rolling
Acres Water Supply, and later used the expertise he had gained there
to modernize and expand Leigh Water Supply, providing quality water
and extending service to several hundred residents of Harrison
County; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to his community, Mr. Power began serving
on the County Commissioners Court for Precinct 2 in 1983 and held
the position for more than a decade; he was elected to his first
term as a Marshall City Commissioner in 2007, and the following year
he was elected by his colleagues as Commission Chair, a position
commonly referred to as Mayor of Marshall; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Power has also taken on leadership roles with
numerous other civic organizations and committees, including the
North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association,
which he served as Chairman, the Texas Independence Express Depot
Restoration Committee, the State Sesquicentennial Committee, the
Cypress Valley Navigation District, which he served as Chairman,
and the State of Texas County Judges and Commissioners Legislative
Affairs Committee, which he served as Chairman; and
WHEREAS, Burdened by the number of juveniles being
incarcerated alongside hardened criminals in Texas jails, Mr. Power
worked with the Governor to develop alternatives to house and
rehabilitate juvenile offenders; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Power has served his Lord and his community
faithfully for decades, working in the background to help those in
need, and he is a valued member of Central Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Power enjoys the love
and support of his wife of more than 30 years, Diana, and the
couple's three children, Leslie, Bill, and Cherry; moreover, he has
taken great pleasure in welcoming into his family six
grandchildren, Victoria, Brooke, Shelby, Nikki, Justin, and
Jonathan; and
WHEREAS, Buddy Power has made lasting contributions to the
city of Marshall, and he has justly garnered the respect and
admiration of his neighbors, friends, and colleagues; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor William Dair "Buddy" Power on the occasion
of his 70th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for
continued success and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Power as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.