Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HCR68 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.C.R. No. 68
	1	+	85R9005 BPG-D
	2	+	By: Smithee H.C.R. No. 68
2	3
3	4
4		-	~~HOUSE~~ CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	5	+	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
5	6		WHEREAS, The certain knowledge of a life well lived may
6	7		comfort those saddened by the death of Will David Davis Sr., who
7	8		passed away on December 12, 2016, at the age of 87; and
8	9		WHEREAS, Born in Houston on July 18, 1929, Will Davis was the
9	10		son of David Davis and Nita Barnett Davis; in 1934, he moved to
10	11		Austin with his mother, and five years later, when he was only nine,
11	12		he became the youngest page to serve the Texas Legislature; he
12	13		worked during three sessions to help provide for his family; and
13	14		WHEREAS, After graduating from Austin High School, Mr. Davis
14	15		went on to play football for Lamar University and then Baylor
15	16		University, where he completed his bachelor's and law degrees; he
16	17		was a member of the Baylor team that played in the 1951 Orange Bowl,
17	18		and he won election as president of the student body; and
18	19		WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was hired as an assistant attorney
19	20		general, and in 1957, he was appointed general counsel of the Texas
20	21		Department of Insurance by Governor Price Daniel; three years
21	22		later, he joined his uncle, W. W. Heath, as a partner in the firm
22	23		that became Heath, Davis, and McCalla; in 2010, he took on the role
23	24		of counsel to Thompson Coe, and he retired the following year; and
24	25		WHEREAS, Over the course of his distinguished career,
25	26		Mr. Davis represented major insurance companies, insurance holding
26	27		companies, and insurance trade associations; he became general
27	28		counsel for the Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers at its
28	29		inception in 1997, having served one of its predecessor
29	30		organizations for many years; in addition, he served as outside
30	31		general counsel and as a member of advising boards of directors and
31	32		management for several insurance companies; he frequently
32	33		represented insurance company clients before the Texas
33	34		Legislature, and as an insurance industry representative, he was
34	35		instrumental in the drafting of laws that are now part of the Texas
35	36		Insurance Code; and
36	37		WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was very engaged in the political arena,
37	38		and in the 1960s, he served as chair of the Texas Democratic Party
38	39		and of the Texas State Democratic Conventions; moreover, he was a
39	40		delegate to both state and national conventions and served in many
40	41		campaigns and on many gubernatorial inauguration committees; and
41	42		WHEREAS, Because his mother had been a teacher, Mr. Davis
42	43		felt called to support public education and professionals in the
43	44		field through his leadership; he was a member of the Austin
44	45		Independent School District Board of Trustees for 16 years and
45	46		served three terms as president; in 1978, he was president of the
46	47		National School Boards Association, and he served as an officer for
47	48		seven years; and
48	49		WHEREAS, At the state level, Mr. Davis was president of the
49	50		Texas Association of School Boards; he was a member of the
50	51		Governor's Select Committee on Public Education, which made
51	52		recommendations for major reforms that were adopted by the
52	53		legislature in the 1984 Special Session as House Bill 72; in
53	54		addition, he was elected to the Texas State Board of Education and
54	55		his tenure, which spanned more than a decade, included a term as
55	56		vice chair; and
56	57		WHEREAS, Mr. Davis benefited higher education as well; one of
57	58		the original seven founders of Austin Community College, he became
58	59		inaugural president of the board of trustees in 1972, and following
59	60		three terms, he remained a board member until 1982; during that
60	61		time, enrollment grew to more than 20,000 students, and today, ACC
61	62		is one of the largest community colleges in Texas; he was also chair
62	63		of the Baylor University Board of Regents from 2004 to 2006 and
63	64		served as a regent for almost two decades; and
64	65		WHEREAS, The recipient of myriad accolades for his
65	66		professional and civic accomplishments, Mr. Davis was accorded
66	67		Baylor's Distinguished Alumni Award, the Price Daniel "Pro Texana"
67	68		Distinguished Public Service Award, and the "Pro Texana" Award; in
68	69		1991, AISD paid tribute to his achievements with the opening of the
69	70		Will D. Davis Elementary School, and nine years later, the Texas
70	71		Association of School Boards named its office the Will D. Davis
71	72		Building; the Insurance Council of Texas presented him with its
72	73		Raymond Mauk Award for leadership in 2010, and two years later,
73	74		TALHI conferred on him its first Will Davis Leadership Award; and
74	75		WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Mr. Davis shared a rewarding
75	76		marriage of 57 years with Ann Byargeon Davis before her passing; he
76	77		took great pride in his children, Lisa Davis, Lynn Davis Walker, and
77	78		Will Davis Jr., as well as in his nine grandchildren, Katelyn
78	79		Baroch, Allie Frazier, Becca Jahnke, Bill Walker III, Davis Walker,
79	80		Natalie Betzer, Will Davis III, Emily Boone, and Sara Regan, and
80	81		five great-grandchildren, Davis and Blake Baroch, Annaleigh
81	82		Frazier, Mary Carson Walker, and William "Liam" A. Walker IV; he was
82	83		a valued member of Hyde Park Baptist Church and taught young married
83	84		couples in Sunday school for many years; and
84	85		WHEREAS, Will Davis left a lasting imprint on the Lone Star
85	86		State through his outstanding contributions, and although he is
86	87		deeply missed by those he left behind, they will continue to find
87	88		inspiration in his irreproachable character and his dedication to
88	89		his family, his faith, and his fellow citizens; now, therefore, be
89	90		it
90	91		RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
91	92		hereby pay tribute to the memory of Will David Davis Sr. and extend
92	93		sincere sympathy to his loved ones; and, be it further
93	94		RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
94	95		prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
95	96		Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
96	97		Will David Davis Sr.
97		-	Smithee
98		-	______________________________ ______________________________
99		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
100		-	I certify that H.C.R. No. 68 was unanimously adopted by a
101		-	rising vote of the House on March 16, 2017.
102		-	______________________________
103		-	Chief Clerk of the House
104		-	I certify that H.C.R. No. 68 was unanimously adopted by a
105		-	rising vote of the Senate on March 21, 2017.
106		-	______________________________
107		-	Secretary of the Senate
108		-	APPROVED: __________________
109		-	Date
110		-	__________________
111		-	Governor