H.R. No. 2707
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends will long cherish their memories
of James Kennedy Skipton, Jr., of Houston, who died on May 25, 2011,
at the age of 76; and
WHEREAS, Jim Skipton was born in New Rochelle, New York, on
September 5, 1934, to James and Bernadine Skipton; he grew up in
Houston, where he graduated from Lamar High School, and he went on
to attend Texas A&M University, The University of Texas, and the
University of Houston; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Skipton shared a fulfilling marriage with his
wife, LaMerle, for 53 years, and together they were blessed with
five children, Kim, Pat, Sharon, Suzanne, and James, as well as
seven grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, A successful businessman, Mr. Skipton was the
founder and president of Texas Fire and Safety, a company with
locations in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio; he collected vintage
firefighting memorabilia that he displayed at his office; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Skipton was active in his community as a
lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a
founder of the Texas American Saddlebred Horses Association; he
also belonged to the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, the Houston Figure
Skating Club, the Houston Club, the Forest Club, and the Knights of
Momus; he attended St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Bellville, where
he served on the vestry; and
WHEREAS, A man who was true to his word and brought happiness
to the lives of others, Jim Skipton will long be remembered with
great admiration and affection by all those who were privileged to
know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James Kennedy
Skipton, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
family: to his wife, LaMerle Skipton; to his daughters, Kim
Skipton, Pat Jones and her husband, David, Sharon Skipton, and
Suzanne Shelton and her husband, Robert; to his son, James Kennedy
Skipton III, and his wife, Laurie; to his grandchildren, David
Jones, Jordan Jones, Shelby Shelton, Sara Beth Shelton, Sydney
Shelton, Jimmy Skipton IV, and Andrew Skipton; to his sister,
Sandra Parham; to his brother-in-law, William Dell York, Jr.; 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 James
Kennedy Skipton, Jr.
Callegari
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2707 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 30, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House