84R21610 JGH-D
By: Anderson of McLennan H.R. No. 2029
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Jim Griffith of Waco has devoted much of his life to
public service and to advocacy on behalf of his political ideals;
and
WHEREAS, The son of U.S. Olympic wrestling coach Art
Griffith, Mr. Griffith helped start the Texas A&M University NCAA
wrestling team during the 1950s, and during the 1960s he moved to
San Marcos, where he participated in the senatorial campaigns of
John Tower and George H. W. Bush; in 1962, he was elected chair of
the Hays County Republican Party, and the following year he was
elected to the State Republican Executive Committee; and
WHEREAS, An expert in issues related to poverty and
vocational education, Mr. Griffith has served four U.S.
presidents; under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, he was the Office
of Economic Opportunity regional director for Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, and he later moved to
Washington, D.C., where he served as the assistant director and
director of operations for the War on Poverty and the director of
Indian and migrant programs; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, Mr. Griffith was working for the
Texas State Technical Institute in Waco when he met his future wife,
Sharon, who ran the school's admissions offices; when Mr. Griffith
was offered a chance to join the Reagan administration, the couple
moved to Washington, D.C., and got married in a church on Capitol
Hill; Mrs. Griffith went to work for the Republican National
Committee, while Mr. Griffith served as executive director of the
President's Council on Vocational and Technical Education, working
with state vocational education offices and the National Chamber of
Commerce; he was the author of a book published by the President's
Council called A Nation at Work; and
WHEREAS, The couple returned to the Waco area in 1989, and
Mr. Griffith continued to advise the administration of George H. W.
Bush on matters of vocational and technical education; in 1993, the
couple purchased and restored the historic Deyerle-Fall Mansion in
McGregor, which they now rent out for private parties, while
Mr. Griffith remains active in local politics; and
WHEREAS, Our communities benefit immeasurably from the
dedication of public-spirited individuals such as Jim Griffith, and
he may indeed take great pride in his myriad contributions to the
betterment of this state and nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend Jim Griffith for his long and
distinguished record of public service and civic engagement and
extend to him sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Griffith as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.