SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 372
In Memory
of
Robert Landis Armstrong
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins Texans
across the state in mourning the loss of Robert Landis Armstrong,
who died March 1, 2015, at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, Bob Armstrong served the citizens of Texas with
distinction over the course of a decades-long career in public
service, during which he played an essential role in dramatically
increasing the revenues of the Permanent School Fund and the
Permanent University Fund and in doubling the size of the state's
park system; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was born and raised in Austin; he
earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from The University
of Texas, and from 1953 to 1955, he served the nation as an
officer in the United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, He began his career by serving as a member of the
Texas House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970; he was one of
the first legislators in the state to focus on environmental
issues and played a significant role in the creation of the
Interagency Council on Natural Resources, the Texas Parks
Advisory Committee, and the Texas Conservation Foundation; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure in the legislature, he also
helped establish the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, and
he carried the constitutional amendment allowing for the
investment of the Permanent University Fund in stocks, which
enhanced the university's ability to invest wisely and increase
its revenue; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was elected land commissioner in
1970; as land commissioner, he managed the state's 22.5 million
acres of public land and its mineral ownership, and he served in
that capacity until 1982; under his leadership, the state put the
management of public lands in an environmental context and
continued to hold regular, successful lease sales despite the
controversies that arose between environmentalists and oil and
gas producers; and
WHEREAS, He continued to support and promote education
during his tenure as land commissioner by raising the oil and gas
royalties on state lands, which allowed the Permanent School Fund
to more than triple its assets and the Permanent University Fund
to experience dramatic growth; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was appointed to the Parks and
Wildlife Commission in 1985; while serving on the commission, he
was able to help fulfill his longtime goal of purchasing land for
the 212,000-acre Big Bend State Park, which doubled the size of
the state's park acreage; he went on to serve as natural
resources and energy advisor to Governor Ann Richards and as
assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management in the
United States Department of the Interior; and
WHEREAS, He received numerous honors over the course of his
distinguished career, including the Texas Nature Conservancy's
Lifetime Achievement Award, the Field and Stream Conservation
Award, and the Chevron Conservation Award; he was the founder of
the Austin Chapter of the Sierra Club and a founding board member
of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Bob Armstrong was a man of courage, determination,
and vision who served the state and nation with distinction, and
his leadership and countless accomplishments will not be
forgotten; and
WHEREAS, He was devoted to his wife, Linda Aaker and to his
four children and two grandchildren, and he leaves behind memories
that will be treasured forever by all who were privileged to
share in his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
family of Robert Landis Armstrong; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
memory of Robert Landis Armstrong.
Watson
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 16, 2015, by a
rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate