H.C.R. No. 86
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The citizens of Amarillo lost an exemplary public
official with the passing of city council member James Harold Simms
on November 12, 2014, at the age of 73; and
WHEREAS, Born in Amarillo on January 1, 1941, Jim Simms was
raised in Clovis, New Mexico, and pursued his college education at
Eastern New Mexico University, where he earned degrees in business,
finance, and psychology; and
WHEREAS, Following graduation, Mr. Simms settled in
Amarillo; he operated the Mitchell Electric Company for 28 years
before selling the business in 1999, then worked for another 11
years as a vice president of Amarillo National Bank; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Simms began his distinguished career in public
service in 1982, when he was elected to the board of the Amarillo
Independent School District, and he held that office for five
years, including a stint as board president; during the 1990s, he
was president of the Amarillo Hospital District board of managers;
and
WHEREAS, In 2005, this respected civic leader was elected as
the Place 4 representative on the Amarillo City Commission, and he
went on to earn reelection four times, most recently in May 2013,
six months before the city commission converted to a council;
during his time in city government, he worked tirelessly to benefit
his community and played an important role in securing additional
water resources and furthering economic development efforts; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Simms was active in state government as well,
accepting appointments from Governor George W. Bush as executive
chair of the board of trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of
Texas and from Governor Rick Perry to become a member of the State
Securities Board; in addition, he was president of Kids Inc. and of
the Children's Learning Centers board of directors, and he worked
with United Way of Amarillo and Canyon; in recognition of his
accomplishments, he was named Man of the Year by the Amarillo
Globe-News in 1997; and
WHEREAS, A caring husband and father, Mr. Simms shared a
rewarding 57-year marriage with his wife, Freeda; they raised three
children, Jane, J. Fred, and Lee, and with the passing years, they
had the pleasure of seeing their family grow to include six
grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, A man of great integrity and ability, Jim Simms
dedicated himself to serving the city that he loved, and he leaves
behind a legacy of generosity and civic engagement that will
continue to inspire all those who had the good fortune to know him;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby pay tribute to the life of James Harold Simms and extend
sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife,
Freeda Simms; to his children, Jane Simms Gillette and her husband,
Greg, J. Fred Simms and his wife, Whitney, and Lee Simms and his
wife, Theresa; to his grandchildren, Jacob Gillette and Lila,
Benjamin, Luke, Ruby, and Fred Simms; to his brother, Mickey Simms,
and his wife, Irene; to his nephews, Gerald Wade Simms, Mitch Simms
and his wife, Mychelle, and their sons, Paden and Garret, and Gary
Simms and his wife, Amy, and their daughters, Rylee and Haley; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
James Harold Simms.
Smithee
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 86 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 26, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 86 was adopted by the Senate on
April 7, 2015, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor