84R19721 BPG-D
By: Craddick H.R. No. 2035
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The untimely death of Jefferson Jones Baskin of
Austin on March 25, 2015, at the age of 48, has brought a great loss
to the family and friends of this esteemed Texan; and
WHEREAS, Born to Pat and Joan Baskin in Midland on June 21,
1966, JJ Baskin completed his bachelor's degree in political
science at Trinity University; he went on to earn a master's degree
from the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs at The
University of Texas at Austin; after starting his career in the
office of Texas State Comptroller Bob Bullock, he was hired as one
of the first employees in the successful attorney general campaign
of Dan Morales; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Baskin was primarily a Democrat, but he worked
in behalf of political campaigns for public servants in either
party who represented his values, and particularly his support for
education; he was a director of the nonpartisan organizations
Public Agenda and Texas Lyceum, and in 2013, he co-chaired the
latter's first-ever conference dedicated to philanthropy; one of
the state's leading experts on philanthropy, he lectured at dozens
of conferences and professional events across the state and nation;
he also served as an executive-on-loan to San Antonio Mayor Julian
Castro's SA2020 for philanthropy as well as for education; and
WHEREAS, Deeply committed to education, Mr. Baskin was
employed for five years at the Southwest Educational Development
Laboratory; he was copresident of the PTA at Mathews Elementary
School, and he was president of the Austin Public Library
Foundation; through both the Austin Community Foundation and his
personal nonprofit organization, Education Capital, he led the
annual report and survey efforts for the Texas Education Foundation
Network; he was a Trinity University Associate and a member of the
Texas Exes Public Affairs Committee and the Coalition for
Excellence in Higher Education; in 2011, the Texas Ex-Student
Association named him the recipient of its prestigious Top Hand
Award; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Baskin was sustained by a strong faith; he was a
lifelong Presbyterian and an elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church
of Austin, where he served as clerk of the session; for many years,
he was a trustee of Mo Ranch, a Presbyterian retreat center, and he
chaired its strategic planning committee; and
WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Mr. Baskin shared a fulfilling
relationship with his wife, Joy, and he took great pride in his
sons, Ben and Judge; his warmth, wit, and kindness brought him a
host of friends, and he found great satisfaction in helping to
connect like-minded people; when he was diagnosed with cancer in
2014, his large circle of admirers established JJ's Fight Club to
rally him in his valiant battle against the disease, and the group
now has members in all 50 states and well over a dozen countries;
and
WHEREAS, Though it is impossible to gauge the full effect of
one person's life, some individuals leave their unmistakable mark
on the world as they move through it, and the selfless contributions
of JJ Baskin will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough
to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jefferson Jones
"JJ" Baskin and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
family: to his wife, Joy Surratt Baskin; to his sons, Ben Baskin and
Judge Baskin; to his mother, Joan Ragsdale Baskin; to his sister,
Becky Baskin Ferguson, and her husband, Doug; to his brothers, Bo
Baskin and Steve Ragsdale Baskin and his wife, Susie; and to his
many other relatives and 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 Jefferson
Jones Baskin.