84R17402 JGH-D
By: Thompson of Harris H.R. No. 1591
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The life of a respected public servant drew to a
close with the passing of former state representative Phillip R.
Cates of Dripping Springs on July 13, 2014, at the age of 67; and
WHEREAS, Phil Cates was born in Pampa on January 6, 1947, to
Herman and Lavern Cates, and he grew up in Lefors, which he was fond
of calling "a town of 500 kinfolks, and they're all mine"; after
graduating from high school, he attended West Texas A&M University,
where he began his career in politics by winning four elections to
the Student Senate; during his university years, he was also a
member of the Baptist Student Union and Lambda Chi Alpha
fraternity; and
WHEREAS, At the age of 23, Mr. Cates was elected to his first
term in the Texas House of Representatives after winning a tightly
contested primary by two votes; he went on to represent his Texas
Panhandle constituents for four terms, from 1971 to 1979; during
that time, he furthered the work of the chamber through his
membership on a variety of committees, and he served as chair of the
Environmental Affairs Subcommittee on Pollution Control and as vice
chair of the Business and Industry and Human Resources Committees,
working with former speaker Rayford Price; and
WHEREAS, After leaving the Texas Legislature, Mr. Cates
moved with his family to Shamrock, where he worked as the director
of the chamber of commerce, became part owner of the Shamrock Texan
newspaper, and helped to establish Red River Savings and Loan;
eager to get back into politics, he moved with his family again to
Houston, where he worked for former speaker Byron Tunnell at
Tenneco, Inc., serving as a lobbyist in nine Southeastern states
for nine years; from 1980 to 1981, he lobbied for the Texas
Association of Business, and then he worked as a lobbyist with
former speaker Bill Clayton for eight years; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, Mr. Cates started his own lobbying firm,
Texas Stakeholders, which he operated until the time of his death;
he and his team created the well-known "Paint the Capitol Day,"
promoting the paint and coatings industry; in recognition of his
legislative and professional accomplishments, he received the
Distinguished Alumnus Award from the West Texas A&M University
Alumni Association; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cates met his future wife, Nancy Holt, while
they were students at WTAMU, and they were married in 1970; the
couple shared a rewarding marriage that spanned four and a half
decades, and they raised two sons, Andrew and John; and
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family and to the Lone Star
State, Phil Cates made a positive difference in the lives of
countless Texans, and he will be fondly remembered by his
colleagues at the Texas Capitol and by all those who had the good
fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Phillip
R. Cates and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
family: to his wife, Nancy Cates; to his sons, Andrew Cates and John
Cates and his wife, Ruth; to his grandchildren, Ty Quincy and
Elisabeth Carmen; 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 Phillip R.
Cates.