H.R. No. 2499
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The maritime industry and the city of Houston lost
an admired leader with the passing of James T. Edmonds on May 11,
2014, at the age of 69; and
WHEREAS, Appointed to the Port Commission of the Port of
Houston Authority in 1996, Jim Edmonds served as its chair from 2000
to 2013; he recognized the importance of investing in the port's
future, and in the wake of 9/11, he skillfully guided the
modernization of security; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Edmonds worked tirelessly to promote the growth
of the port, which today ranks among the world's busiest and leads
the nation in foreign waterborne tonnage, U.S. imports, and U.S.
export tonnage; his tenure saw the completion of several major
projects, including the deepening and widening of the Houston Ship
Channel and the expansion of the Bayport Terminal; moreover, he
helped raise the port's profile by strengthening its small business
development program, planning a freight rail initiative, and
expanding environmental stewardship efforts; and
WHEREAS, Deeply committed to the greater community as well,
Mr. Edmonds devoted more than a quarter-century to the Memorial
Hermann Health System, offering notable direction as a member of
many of its boards; he chaired the Hospital System Board from 2007
to 2008, and he was a member of the board and executive committee of
the Greater Houston Partnership; in addition, he was a trusted
advisor to numerous business and government leaders over the course
of four decades; and
WHEREAS, The son of James and Patricia Edmonds, Mr. Edmonds
was born in Wichita, Kansas, on June 10, 1944; he graduated from
Abilene Christian University, and early in his career, he worked as
executive assistant to Houston Mayor Louie Welch and as
administrative assistant to Governor John Connally; subsequently,
he became a consulting principal with KPMG-Peat Marwick, and he was
a founding partner in an investment banking concern before
establishing his own business consulting firm, Edmonds and Company;
and
WHEREAS, James Edmonds made a profound impact on Houston
through his decades of civic engagement and public service, and his
accomplishments will continue to benefit residents in the years to
come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James T. Edmonds and
extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; 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 James T.
Edmonds.
Smith
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2499 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 21, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House