82R31723 MMS-D
By: Eiland H.R. No. 2738
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Warren D. Chisum has earned the esteem
and affection of his fellow legislators and rendered conscientious
service to the people of his district and to the Lone Star State;
and
WHEREAS, Representative Chisum was born in Miami, in the
Texas Panhandle, and he has lived in Pampa for most of his life;
before entering the legislature, he built a successful career in
the oil and gas industry; it is a business he knows from the ground
up, having gotten his start as an oil well driller; he went on to
purchase an oil field trucking concern and then to found two oil and
gas production and exploration companies; and
WHEREAS, In 1988, Warren Chisum made his first run for a seat
in the Texas House; he won the race, and he has not faced an opponent
in the general election since; now ranked seventh in seniority, he
represents the third-largest house district in Texas and works
tirelessly in behalf of his constituents and rural Texans; his
dedication to their interests coupled with his bulldog tenacity,
his long tenure at the Capitol, and his consummate skill at
navigating the legislative process have made him a highly effective
advocate in the halls of the statehouse; and
WHEREAS, Possessed of a keen intelligence and a seemingly
inexhaustible capacity for hard work, Representative Chisum
currently serves on the Appropriations and Environmental
Regulation Committees, both of which he has chaired in sessions
past; and
WHEREAS, Representative Chisum has participated in a number
of groups concerned with energy issues, providing leadership to the
Energy Council, an international organization of legislators, and
the council's research affiliate, as well as committees functioning
under the auspices of the Southern Legislative Conference, National
Conference of State Legislators, and American Legislative Exchange
Council; and
WHEREAS, A staunch champion of conservative principles,
Representative Chisum currently serves as president of the board of
the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, a group he
cofounded, and as a member of the board of the Texas Conservative
Coalition; and
WHEREAS, Many community organizations and worthy causes have
also benefited from Representative Chisum's astute guidance; he has
served on the boards of Wayland Baptist University and Scottish
Rite Dormitory in Austin and on the advisory council of Clarendon
College; in addition, he holds membership in the Gray County
Christian Coalition and in the Texas and Pampa Masonic Lodges, and
he regularly teaches Sunday school at First Baptist Church in his
hometown; and
WHEREAS, Among the numerous accolades conferred on
Representative Chisum have been the Families First Award from the
Texas chapter of Concerned Women of America and the Outstanding
Leadership Award from the Texas Christian Coalition; and
WHEREAS, Always fair and open to discussion, Representative
Chisum is known as a straight shooter, a man whose word is his bond;
freshman legislators also quickly discover his down-to-earth
friendliness and droll sense of humor, as well as his readiness to
help them learn the ropes; his generosity in this regard is all the
more welcome because no one in the chamber has a more extensive
knowledge of house rules and procedures, or a better ability to call
on them at the appropriate time; illustrative of his mastery is his
reputation as the King of Points of Order; typically calm and
low-key, however, he has always raised his questions in such a
manner as to maintain cordial relations with the author of the
measure; and
WHEREAS, While acquainting new members with the thicket of
house procedures, Representative Chisum often leavens his lessons
with light-hearted advice; on at least one occasion, his tutelage
included the suggestion that the best time to pass a nongermane
amendment was late at night, when no one was paying attention, a
tactic he himself has effectively employed; and
WHEREAS, In his leisure hours, Representative Chisum finds
joy and relaxation in time spent with his family and in outdoor
avocations, notably working on his cattle ranch and hunting and
fishing; a fount of information about a vast range of subjects, he
is seldom at a loss when reaching the limits of his actual
knowledge, as attested by his lengthy, creative commentary on the
art of cod fishing, a topic about which he truly knew next to
nothing, while on a trip to Newfoundland; as adventurous in his
sporting pursuits as he is enthusiastic, he has also tried his hand
at soaring and whitewater rafting; and
WHEREAS, Warren Chisum married his high school sweetheart,
Omega, in 1957, and the couple will celebrate their 54th wedding
anniversary in August 2011; they are the proud parents of two
children, Jeff and Kim, they have been additionally blessed with
six grandchildren, and their family has grown to include a fourth
generation; and
WHEREAS, Representative Chisum has commented on the
satisfaction he finds in being able, as a legislator, to serve a
great number of people, and he has indeed represented his
constituents well and faithfully over the course of more than two
decades; moreover, through his broad expertise, his unfailing
commitment to his district, and his genial relations with his
fellow members, he has long played a key role in the deliberations
of this chamber and gained the high regard of all who have had the
pleasure of working with him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Warren D. Chisum for his
many years of outstanding public service and extend to him sincere
best wishes for continued fulfillment and happiness in all his
endeavors; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Representative Chisum as an expression of high regard
by his colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives.