82R13089 JNC-D
By: Margo H.R. No. 878
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Esteemed community leader Dell Thomas Holmsley of El
Paso celebrated his 71st birthday on March 6, 2011; and
WHEREAS, A native of Ysleta, Tom Holmsley was born in 1940 and
attended schools in the Socorro and El Paso districts before
graduating from a high school in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1958; as a
young man, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and attained
the rank of Eagle Scout; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holmsley earned a degree in government from The
University of Texas at El Paso and went on to serve his country as a
second lieutenant with the military police stationed in Germany; he
completed a degree in German at the University of Maryland as well
as a master's degree in geography and a teaching certificate at The
University of Texas at Austin; and
WHEREAS, Following his graduation, Mr. Holmsley taught high
school government, and his exceptional work was recognized with the
Austin Outstanding Young Educator award; in 1973, he began a career
with State Farm Insurance that spanned more than three decades and
included posts in Laredo, Arlington, and McAllen; in 1995, he
returned to his hometown of El Paso, where he served as a field
executive for the company until his retirement in 2004; since that
time, he has worked as a substitute teacher with the Ysleta
Independent School District and as an instructor of insurance
classes at El Paso Community College; and
WHEREAS, Active in civic affairs, this notable Texan was
elected and installed as chair of the El Paso County Republican
Party in 2010; he has demonstrated outstanding leadership during
his term, and he is credited with helping to increase membership and
revitalize the organization; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holmsley is supported in all of his endeavors by
his wife, Mary, and he is devoted to his 5 children and 13
grandchildren; in his free time, he enjoys flying and building
large-scale model airplanes and fishing boats; and
WHEREAS, Tom Holmsley is a source of wisdom and inspiration
to all those who are privileged to know him, and it is a pleasure to
recognize him on 71 years of life well lived; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Dell Thomas Holmsley on his 71st birthday
and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Holmsley as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.