84R26017 JGH-D
By: King of Hemphill H.R. No. 2544
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A life dedicated to public service came to an end
with the death of Hemphill County sheriff Morse Burroughs on April
19, 2015, at the age of 62; and
WHEREAS, Morse Burroughs was born in Reno, Nevada, on
February 12, 1953, to Willis Burroughs Sr. and Alice Robinson
Burroughs, and he grew up in San Juan, California; answering his
nation's call to duty, he served in the United States Army during
the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, After attending the California Highway Patrol
Academy in the mid-1970s, Mr. Burroughs worked in California for
several years before moving to Texas, where he served with the Dumas
Police Department from 1983 until 1987; he went on to serve with the
Pampa Police Department from 1990 until 1997, and then with the Gray
County Sheriff's Office until 2004; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Mr. Burroughs became the chief deputy in
the Hemphill County Sheriff's Office, and he was appointed sheriff
in 2011 before winning the office in an election the following year;
he also served his community as a member of the board of directors
of Tralee Crisis Center in Pampa and as a member of the Canadian
Lions Club; at the time of his death, Sheriff Burroughs was planning
to run for reelection; and
WHEREAS, Admired for his kindness, generosity, and
integrity, Morse Burroughs will long be remembered with respect and
gratitude by the community he served so well, and he leaves behind a
record of service that his loved ones can remember with pride; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Morse Burroughs and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
brother, Willis Burroughs Jr., and his wife, Sharon; to his sister,
Christine Lewis; to his nephews, Gregory and Kirk Burroughs; to his
nieces, Leigh Ann Collins and Natasha Burroughs; and to his 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 Sheriff
Burroughs.