82R6013 JEN-D
By: Patrick H.R. No. 240
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of Arlington lost one of its most
influential leaders with the passing of former mayor Tom J.
Vandergriff on December 30, 2010, at the age of 84; and
WHEREAS, Born in Carrollton on January 29, 1926, Tom
Vandergriff moved to Arlington when he was 11; after earning a
degree from the University of Southern California in 1947, he
returned home and went to work at the family car dealership; he also
joined the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and assumed the presidency
of that organization at the age of 23; and
WHEREAS, Two years later, in 1951, Mr. Vandergriff ran for
mayor and won; he went on to be reelected 12 times, spending a total
of 26 years in office and leading the city through more than a
quarter-century of dramatic progress and great change; he is
credited with bringing numerous businesses to Arlington, including
a General Motors plant and Six Flags Over Texas; in addition, he
presided over the creation of Lake Arlington and worked to have
Arlington State College made a part of The University of Texas
System; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Vandergriff was perhaps proudest of his
efforts to attract a major league baseball team to Arlington, which
came to a successful conclusion when he threw out the first pitch at
the Texas Rangers' opening game on April 21, 1972; his interest in
the ball club was such that he served as one of its broadcasters for
a time, and he was inducted into the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of
Fame in 2004; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure as mayor, this dedicated elected
official saw Arlington grow from 8,000 to more than 120,000
residents; despite his many responsibilities, he still made time to
answer his own phone and mail, return all calls, and perform
marriage ceremonies; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Vandergriff stepped down as mayor in 1977 but
returned to public service after being elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives in 1982 by the voters of the state's 26th
Congressional District; he later distinguished himself as Tarrant
County judge from 1991 to 2007, continuing to put his expertise to
work in behalf of his fellow citizens; and
WHEREAS, Widely respected for his tireless perseverance and
ability to rise above partisan politics, "Mr. Arlington," as he was
known, served as the chair of numerous civic organizations, on the
boards of many community and governmental entities, and as a member
of President Johnson's White House Commission on Urban Problems in
the late 1960s; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, he enjoyed the love and
support of his wife, Anna Waynette Vandergriff, whom he originally
met in high school and married in 1949; they shared 60 rewarding
years together before she passed away in 2009 and were the parents
of five children; and
WHEREAS, The city of Arlington, now one of the 50 largest in
the United States, greatly benefited from the vision, initiative,
and outstanding contributions of Tom Vandergriff, and his
achievements will continue to influence the lives of North Texas
residents for years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
Tom J. Vandergriff and extend sincere condolences to the members of
his family: to his children, Vanessa Watters and her husband, Mark,
Victor Vandergriff and his wife, Kristin, Valerie Kelton and her
husband, Paul, and Viveca Vandergriff; to his grandchildren,
Kendell Kelton, Rachel Kelton, Katharine Vandergriff, Parker
Vandergriff, and Caroline Vandergriff; to his sister, Virginia
Deering; 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 the
Honorable Tom J. Vandergriff.