83R5225 BK-F
By: J. Davis of Harris H.R. No. 170
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The life of a highly respected and dedicated
physician drew to a close with the passing of Dr. James Anderson
Twining of Houston on October 26, 2012, at the age of 73; and
WHEREAS, Born on October 5, 1939, Jim Twining was the adopted
son of Donald and Marjorie Twining of Aurora, Illinois; he
demonstrated an early affinity for learning and for the outdoors
that would stay with him throughout his life; after graduating from
high school, he went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Drake
University; between semesters, he worked as a construction worker,
assembling steel beams as high as 95 feet from the ground without a
safety harness, as was the practice at the time; and
WHEREAS, He received his medical degree from the University
of Illinois at Chicago in 1965 and, the following year, completed a
rotating internship at Chicago's Cook County Hospital, during which
he delivered 160 babies in two months; Dr. Twining completed his
pediatric residency at the Baylor-affiliated hospital residency
program at the Texas Medical Center in Houston before serving for
two years as a physician in the U.S. Army in Fort Lewis, Washington,
and attaining the rank of major; and
WHEREAS, Although he had fallen in love with the Rocky
Mountains and with Mount Rainier, Dr. Twining returned with his
family to Houston, where he earned certification from the American
Board of Pediatrics; he also became a fellow of the American Academy
of Pediatrics and a member of the Texas Medical Association and the
Texas Pediatric Society; and
WHEREAS, This eminent physician became only the third
pediatrician to serve the Clear Lake community, and he founded Bay
Area Pediatrics in 1973; over the next four decades, his practice
grew from serving 6 patients to some 36,000; known for his warm and
considerate bedside manner, he provided expert care to generations
of Bay Area residents and saved hundreds of lives, while earning the
gratitude of patients ranging from NASA's astronaut corps to
indigent residents of Harris and Galveston Counties; and
WHEREAS, Highly regarded by his colleagues for his skill,
intellect, and compassion, Dr. Twining became chief of staff of the
Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in 1985, and he served for many
years as a clinical assistant professor at Baylor College of
Medicine; he further benefited the community through his work at
Texas Children's Hospital and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital;
and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Twining enjoyed the love
and support of his wife, Patricia, and his sons, Jeffrey, Donald,
Andrew, Phillip, and Steven; along with his deep devotion to his
family, his medical practice, and his patients, he had a zest for
life that expressed itself in myriad ways; he was an avid mountain
climber, summiting Mount Rainier four times and scaling numerous
other peaks in Colorado and Wyoming; in addition, he ran marathons
and had a personal best time of 3 hours and 36 minutes; later, he
became a highly competitive and successful commercial hot air
balloonist, while also finding time to hone his skills as a sailor,
fly fisherman, photographer, and cyclist and to indulge his
appetite for literature and world travel; and
WHEREAS, Although his death has brought great sorrow to his
loved ones, patients, and numerous friends, Jim Twining leaves
behind a legacy of excellence, leadership, and kindness that will
forever inspire all those who had the good fortune to know him; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James Anderson
Twining and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to
his wife, Patricia; to his sons, Jeffrey, Donald, Andrew, Phillip,
and Steven; to his grandchildren, Ethan, Hannah, Molly, Henry,
Lucy, Jessica, Garret, Jake, and Travis; to his sister, Barbara;
and to his other relatives and many 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 Dr. James
Anderson Twining.