H.R. No. 404
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of Arlington lost one of its influential
leaders with the passing of former mayor and longtime city council
member SJ Stovall on July 14, 2010, at the age of 84; and
WHEREAS, Born on September 26, 1925, in Lufkin, SJ Stovall
received his two-letter first name when his parents put his
father's initials on his birth certificate as a temporary measure
and ended up never changing it; he served his nation as a member of
the U.S. Air Force and studied at Texas A&M University before taking
a position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked
for 34 years; and
WHEREAS, After being assigned to the Arlington area, Mr.
Stovall and his family settled in the city in 1950; his career in
local government began in 1963 when he was first elected to the city
council; his engineering background was of great benefit during the
years when Interstate 20 was constructed through the Metroplex, and
he also provided key input and guidance on numerous other issues
during his 14 years as a council member; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, he was serving as mayor pro tem when Mayor
Tom Vandergriff unexpectedly announced that he was leaving office;
Mr. Stovall took over as mayor and remained in that post for six
years; his tenure was highlighted by his successful support for the
building of the Arlington Convention Center and an adjacent hotel
on land that had previously been occupied by a failed theme park
owned by the city; the convention center project boosted the city's
stature and finances and is credited with laying the groundwork for
further development; in addition, Mayor Stovall helped convince a
number of companies to establish operations in Arlington and was
instrumental in the founding of Leadership Arlington; and
WHEREAS, This accomplished public servant opted not to seek
reelection in 1983; soon after stepping down, he was appointed to
the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, where he served with
distinction until 1985; he also held other prominent positions
through the years, including service as president of the North
Central Texas Council of Governments, as chair of the Central
Regional Waste Water System Advisory Committee, and as a member of
the boards for Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex and Arlington
Memorial Hospital; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his many contributions, the City
of Arlington named SJ Stovall Park in his honor in 1991; that
tribute is a reflection of the great respect that was afforded Mayor
Stovall by his fellow citizens, and he will be fondly remembered and
greatly missed by all who had the good fortune 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 the Honorable SJ
Stovall and extend deepest condolences to the members of his
family: to his son, Marc Stovall; to his daughter, Elizabeth
Stovall; to his sister, Marilyn Stovall; 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 SJ Stovall.
Patrick
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 404 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 3, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House