H.R. No. 1437
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Jack Autry Bills of Kerrville passed away on January
23, 2011, at the age of 84, leaving his circle of family and friends
to cherish their many happy memories of time spent in his company;
and
WHEREAS, Jack Bills was born in Graham on November 22, 1926,
to John Rush and Clemmie Bills; he was a gifted singer and learned
to play the guitar at a young age, and he performed with his
brother's band, the Swingsters; raised on a farm, he was intrigued
by glimpses of the wider world afforded him in his history books at
Graham High School, and he hitchhiked to Lubbock to enroll at Texas
Tech University after graduating; and
WHEREAS, Interrupting his studies to answer his nation's call
to duty, Mr. Bills served as an aviation electronics technician
mate in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he later returned to
Texas Tech, where he earned a degree in petroleum engineering;
along the way, he married his high school sweetheart, the former
Betty Ruth Butler; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bills began his career working in West Texas for
Carr Geophysical; he subsequently joined the Mene Grande Oil
Company, serving from 1954 to 1965 in San Tome, Venezuela, and went
on to work for Gulf Oil and Conquest Petroleum in such exotic
locations as Bolivia, Kuwait, Zaire, and Suriname; during those
years, Mr. Bills and his family lived an eventful life, fishing the
Orinoco River, climbing the Andes Mountains, visiting the ruins of
Persepolis, and boating down the Nile, among many other adventures;
and
WHEREAS, Retiring to Kerrville in 1984, Mr. Bills continued
his energetic pace; he was a member of the Rotary Club, earning
distinction as a Paul Harris Fellow, and he donated his time as a
mentor at Kerrville elementary schools; a man of faith, he was
active in men's Bible study and the 21st Century Sunday School Class
at the First United Methodist Church, and he enjoyed playing bridge
and golf and participating in a supper club; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bills often "just happened to have his guitar"
with him, and he and his wife would sing together at gatherings of
their friends; moreover, he was a member of his church choir and
served as song leader for the 21st Century Class; and
WHEREAS, Jack Bills lived a life rich in experiences and
accomplishments, and although he is deeply missed, he leaves behind
a legacy of generosity, engagement, and joie de vivre that will
continue to inspire all those who knew and loved him; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jack Autry Bills and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife
of 64 years, Betty Ruth Bills; to his children, Sharon Curry and her
husband, Bruce, Richard Bills and his wife, Nancy, and Kathryn
Albright and her husband, Jon; to his grandchildren, Rebecca Lewis
and her husband, Eddie, David Curry and his wife, Karen, Sarah
Daniels and her husband, Otis, Nathan Bills and his wife, Nicole,
Rachel Albright, and Madeline Albright; to his
great-grandchildren, Zack Curry, Dylan Daniels, and Austin and
Katharine Bills; to his sisters, Dorothy Ligon and Mary Glyn Mayes
and her husband, Neal; 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 Jack Autry
Bills.
Hilderbran
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1437 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 28, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House