H.R. No. 2191
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, With the passing of Jess Hay of Dallas on April 13,
2015, the Lone Star State lost a champion for higher education, an
accomplished business leader, and a legendary political advisor;
and
WHEREAS, Jess Hay was born in Forney on January 22, 1931, to
Myrtle Roddy and George Hay; he was joined in matrimony to Betty Jo
Peacock in 1951, and they shared more than five decades together,
until her death in 2005; they were the parents of two treasured
daughters, Deborah and Patricia; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hay earned a bachelor's degree in business
administration from Southern Methodist University in 1953, and two
years later, he received a degree from the SMU law school, where he
graduated magna cum laude as class valedictorian and standard
bearer; and
WHEREAS, In 1955, Mr. Hay joined the Dallas law firm of
Locke, Purnell, Boren, Laney & Neely as an associate and worked his
way up to become a partner; he became the chief executive officer of
Lomas Financial Corporation in 1965, serving for nearly 30 years
until his retirement in 1994; the following year, he cofounded HCB
Enterprises, a private investment firm, and served as its chair
until 2007; and
WHEREAS, Over the past half-century, Mr. Hay dedicated much
of his time, energy, and expertise to the support of higher
education in Texas; for 12 years, he was a member of the Board of
Regents of The University of Texas System, and while serving as
chair, he was the driving force behind the formation of a coalition
of educational institutions that worked to maintain funding during
the economic downturn of the 1980s; moreover, he served on the SMU
governing board, and he was a champion for The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hay was a leader in politics as well, and in 1977
and 1978, he served as national finance chair of the Democratic
National Committee; over the years, he further served as chair or
co-chair of the campaign finance committees of Senator Lloyd
Bentsen, Governor Dolph Briscoe, Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby,
and Governor Mark White, and he was the Texas finance chair or
co-chair for the campaigns of President Jimmy Carter, Senator John
Glenn, Vice President Al Gore, and Vice President Walter Mondale,
who once said, "If you're running for office in Texas, first visit
the Alamo, then meet with Jess Hay"; while he was a proud Democrat,
he was a statesman who believed that people should rise above
parties and politics and work together to do what is best for the
state and nation; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan also found time to serve on the
boards of 14 public companies on the New York Stock Exchange, as
well as on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the
Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, the Association of
Real Estate Investment Trusts, the Dallas Citizens Council, the
Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of the National
World War II Memorial, and The University of Texas Press; his
numerous awards and recognitions included the Santa Rita Award from
the UT System, the Distinguished Service Award from the Association
of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, and the
Distinguished Alumni Award from SMU; and
WHEREAS, A man of profound religious conviction, Mr. Hay was
a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church; he helped to found
Ridgewood Park United Methodist Church in 1954, and at the time of
his death, he was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church;
and
WHEREAS, Jess Hay lived a rich and purposeful life devoted to
his family and to the service of his state and nation, and he leaves
behind a remarkable legacy that will continue to inspire all those
who were privileged 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 Jess Hay and extend
sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his daughters,
Deborah Hay Spradley and her husband, Ernest, and Patricia Hay Bush
and her husband, Paul; to his grandchildren, Jessica Werner
Epperson, Rachel Hay Spradley, and Jess Albert Hay; to his
grandson-in-law, Charles Douglas Epperson; to his
great-granddaughters, Kathryn Elizabeth Epperson and Virginia Anne
Epperson; to his dear friend and colleague, Ramona Taylor; 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 Jess Hay.
Turner of Tarrant
Anchia
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2191 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 21, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House