H.R. No. 178
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS
, Nacogdoches lost one of its most admired civic
leaders with the passing of former mayor James E. Raney on June 21,
2014, at the age of 74; and
WHEREAS, The son of James Nathan Raney and Maurine Key Raney,
James Raney was born in Madisonville on February 25, 1940; the
family relocated to Huntsville in 1950, and he graduated from
Huntsville High School; after completing his bachelor's degree, he
served his country in the United States Army and Army Reserve for
six years, attaining the rank of first lieutenant; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Raney married his childhood sweetheart, the
former Sandra Hill, on January 27, 1962, and they became the proud
parents of two daughters, Penny and Julie; in 1966, the couple moved
to Nacogdoches, where they opened the Varsity Book Store, an
enterprise they continued to run for nearly four decades; Mr. Raney
was an especially kind and caring employer, and he was a mentor and
role model to many young people; following the death of his wife in
2009, he was fortunate enough to find love again with the former
Vida Lynne Kowalski, and they wed on June 23, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Deeply committed to his community, Mr. Raney
devoted much of his life to public service; he was a trustee of the
Nacogdoches Independent School District for nine years and served
as its president, and during a decadelong tenure on the city
commission, he served for two years as mayor; moreover, he was a
member of the Criminal Justice Task Force Commission, and Governor
Bill Clements also appointed him twice as chair of the Deep East
Texas Council of Governments Regional Review Committee; he was
later named to the board of the Angelina and Neches River Authority
by Governor Rick Perry; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan gave freely of his time and
talents as master of Milam Lodge No. 2, as a member of all York Rite
Bodies, as a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, and as a Shriner; in
addition, he belonged to Safari Club International, and he was a
life member of both the Texas State Rifle Association and the
National Rifle Association; he was on the board of the Nacogdoches
Rotary Club, and he served as president of the Nacogdoches Booster
Club; moreover, he was a member of the Sons of the Republic of
Texas; a faithful Episcopalian, he was a senior warden at Christ
Church, where he served on the Vestry; and
WHEREAS, Setting an inspiring example of warmth, compassion,
and integrity, James Raney was a true gentleman, and he
demonstrated good will and generosity toward all; his legacy of
service will continue to resonate in his hometown and beyond, and
those who were fortunate enough to know him will forever remember
the tremendous positive influence he had on their lives; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of James E. Raney and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
wife, Vida Lynne Kowalski Raney; to his daughters, Penny Raney and
Julie Raney Williams and her husband, Kirby; to his grandchildren,
Kate, Claire, and Dray Schmidt and Sam, Avery, and Zoe Williams; to
his brother, State Representative John N. Raney, and his wife,
Elizabeth; to his sisters, Theda Raney Flournoy and Eileen Thrash
and her husband, John; and to his other relatives and many friends;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James E.
Raney.
Clardy
Straus Guerra Otto Straus Guerra Otto
Straus Guerra Otto
Allen Guillen Paddie Allen Guillen Paddie
Allen Guillen Paddie
Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul
Alvarado Harless Paul
Anchia Hernandez Peña Anchia Hernandez Peña
Anchia Hernandez Peña
Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
Ashby Huberty Pickett Ashby Huberty Pickett
Ashby Huberty Pickett
Aycock Hughes Price Aycock Hughes Price
Aycock Hughes Price
Bell Hunter Raney Bell Hunter Raney
Bell Hunter Raney
Blanco Isaac Raymond Blanco Isaac Raymond
Blanco Isaac Raymond
Bohac Israel Reynolds Bohac Israel Reynolds
Bohac Israel Reynolds
Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
Button King of Parker Rose Button King of Parker Rose
Button King of Parker Rose
Canales King of Taylor Sanford Canales King of Taylor Sanford
Canales King of Taylor Sanford
Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
Clardy Klick Schofield Clardy Klick Schofield
Clardy Klick Schofield
Coleman Koop Shaheen Coleman Koop Shaheen
Coleman Koop Shaheen
Collier Krause Sheets Collier Krause Sheets
Collier Krause Sheets
Cook Kuempel Sheffield Cook Kuempel Sheffield
Cook Kuempel Sheffield
Craddick Landgraf Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simmons
Craddick Landgraf Simmons
Crownover Larson Simpson Crownover Larson Simpson
Crownover Larson Simpson
Dale Laubenberg Smith Dale Laubenberg Smith
Dale Laubenberg Smith
Darby Leach Smithee Darby Leach Smithee
Darby Leach Smithee
Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
Dukes Márquez Stickland Dukes Márquez Stickland
Dukes Márquez Stickland
Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles VanDeaver Farrar Miles VanDeaver
Farrar Miles VanDeaver
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White of Bell Frullo Morrison White of Bell
Frullo Morrison White of Bell
Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
Geren Murphy Workman Geren Murphy Workman
Geren Murphy Workman
Giddings Murr Wray Giddings Murr Wray
Giddings Murr Wray
Goldman Naishtat Wu Goldman Naishtat Wu
Goldman Naishtat Wu
Gonzales Nevárez Zedler Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
González Oliveira Zerwas González Oliveira Zerwas
González Oliveira Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 178 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on February 19, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus Guerra Otto
Allen Guillen Paddie
Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
Alvarado Harless Paul
Anchia Hernandez Peña
Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
Ashby Huberty Pickett
Aycock Hughes Price
Bell Hunter Raney
Blanco Isaac Raymond
Bohac Israel Reynolds
Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
Button King of Parker Rose
Canales King of Taylor Sanford
Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
Clardy Klick Schofield
Coleman Koop Shaheen
Collier Krause Sheets
Cook Kuempel Sheffield
Craddick Landgraf Simmons
Crownover Larson Simpson
Dale Laubenberg Smith
Darby Leach Smithee
Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
Dukes Márquez Stickland
Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles VanDeaver
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White of Bell
Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
Geren Murphy Workman
Giddings Murr Wray
Goldman Naishtat Wu
Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
González Oliveira Zerwas