82R3927 MMS-D
By: Thompson H.C.R. No. 126
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The people of Texas lost an exemplary public servant
and a universally beloved member of the house of representatives
with the passing of the Honorable Edmund Kuempel of Seguin on
November 4, 2010, at the age of 67; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kuempel was born in Austin on
November 29, 1942, and graduated from Austin High School; after
earning a degree in business from Texas Lutheran College in 1964, he
went to work for Structural Metals, now CMC Steel Texas, in Seguin,
where he spent his entire career; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, Edmund Kuempel won the first of 15
consecutive terms in the house of representatives; enormously
popular in his district, he frequently ran unopposed in the general
election; at the statehouse, he quickly gained the respect of his
colleagues, securing an appointment to the Ways and Means Committee
during his freshman term and the Appropriations Committee during
his second; at the time of his passing, he was the third most senior
member of the house, chair of the Licensing and Administrative
Procedures Committee, and a senior member of the Calendars and
Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committees; he had previously
chaired the Committees on Retirement and Aging, State Recreational
Resources, and House Administration; in the latter capacity, he
helped to oversee extensive restoration of the Capitol and the
construction of the underground Capitol Extension; and
WHEREAS, A tireless champion of his constituents' interests,
Representative Kuempel also supported the development of the
state's parks and recreation areas, played a vital role in shaping
and passing environmental regulations, and was similarly
instrumental in crafting and shepherding legislation relating to
state, teacher, municipal, and county retirement funds; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his 28 years in the house of
representatives, Edmund Kuempel consistently reflected the
greatest honor on that chamber; selfless, hardworking, and
scrupulously honest, he also had a boundless capacity for
friendship, one that was never constrained by differences of
opinion or of party affiliation; Edmund Kuempel simply loved
people, and he treated every single individual he encountered with
unfailing graciousness and good cheer; his warm smile and jovial
nature were legendary, as were his infinite kindness and
generosity; those qualities engendered tremendous respect and
affection and enabled him to build the kind of bridges between
political camps that foster good governance; and
WHEREAS, Among the host of accolades bestowed on
Representative Kuempel were the John Traeger Award from the Texas
Municipal Retirement System, Man of the Year Award from the Texas
County Agricultural Agents Association, Career Achievement Award
and Legislative Leadership Award from the Texas Chamber of
Commerce, and Leader of Excellence Award from the Free Market
Committee; Texas Lutheran University conferred on him its
Distinguished Service Award and inducted him into its Athletics
Leadership Wall of Honor Class of 2009; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan remained deeply engaged in the
life of his district, where his myriad activities included speaking
at community functions and wielding the auctioneer's gavel at
fund-raising events for worthy causes; together with his wife,
Roberta "Birdie" Blumberg Kuempel, he was an active and valued
member of Faith Lutheran Church; and
WHEREAS, Representative Edmund Kuempel was the genuine
article, a gentleman and statesman in every sense of those words,
and his colleagues in the house of representatives will forever
remember his joyous spirit and his unwavering devotion to the Lone
Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Edmund Kuempel and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
wife, Roberta "Birdie" Kuempel; to his daughter and son-in-law,
Margaret and Walter Brady; to his son and daughter-in-law, John and
Michelle Kuempel; to his grandchildren, Rose Brady and Will and Sam
Kuempel; to his father, Henry Kuempel; to his brother and
sister-in-law, Robert and Jamie Kuempel; to his aunt, Marilyn
Kuempel Smith; and to his many 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
the Honorable Edmund Kuempel.