Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HR1302 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.R. No. 1302
	1	+	86R26801 BPG-D
	2	+	By: Hunter H.R. No. 1302
2	3
3	4
4	5		R E S O L U T I O N
5	6		WHEREAS, The life of a legislative titan drew to a close with
6	7		the passing of former state senator A. R. "Babe" Schwartz of
7	8		Galveston on August 10, 2018, at the age of 92; and
8	9		WHEREAS, Born on the island in 1926, Babe Schwartz began his
9	10		long career in public service while still a student at The
10	11		University of Texas School of Law; he worked for both the Texas
11	12		Legislative Council and the chief clerk of the Texas House, and
12	13		after graduating, he served as a prosecutor in the Galveston County
13	14		attorney's office; in 1954, he won the first of two terms in the
14	15		Texas House, and he went on to serve in the Texas Senate for 21
15	16		years; and
16	17		WHEREAS, Senator Schwartz was a staunch champion of Galveston
17	18		Island, and he fiercely defended its natural beauty and the
18	19		public's right to enjoy it; his monumental accomplishments included
19	20		legislation that serves as a foundation for much of the Texas
20	21		Coastal Management Plan; he was instrumental in the creation of the
21	22		1959 Open Beaches Act, and he later sponsored a constitutional
22	23		amendment that gave counties the right to regulate traffic on
23	24		beaches; in addition, he secured passage of measures to ban
24	25		littering on beaches and protect wetlands and freshwater inflows
25	26		into bays and estuaries; he was also responsible for legislation
26	27		that created the Park Board of Trustees, which oversees Galveston
27	28		beaches; and
28	29		WHEREAS, Known for his rapier wit and bold oratory, as well as
29	30		tactical expertise, Senator Schwartz played a key role in bringing
30	31		Galveston The University of Texas Medical Branch, as well as grade
31	32		raisings for the causeway and other infrastructure improvements;
32	33		moreover, he fought tirelessly for civil rights, open government,
33	34		education, and services for those with mental challenges; he was a
34	35		member of the "Killer Bees," who absented themselves from the upper
35	36		chamber in a successful protest against controversial legislation
36	37		during the 66th Legislative Session; and
37	38		WHEREAS, Senator Schwartz served on every major committee and
38	39		held numerous leadership roles, chairing Natural Resources,
39	40		Coastal Lands and Water, Beach Study, Jurisprudence, Rules of the
40	41		Senate, and Military and Veterans Affairs; he further served as
41	42		chair of the Texas Coastal and Marine Council, the national Coastal
42	43		States Organization, and the Rights and Suffrage Committee of the
43	44		1974 Constitutional Convention; and
44	45		WHEREAS, After leaving public office, Senator Schwartz
45	46		continued his advocacy in the legislative sphere; innumerable
46	47		colleagues sought the benefit of his acumen and vast knowledge, as
47	48		well as the scintillation of his vivid stories and unvarnished
48	49		opinions; he helped create the Sea Grant Program at Texas A&M
49	50		University and contributed to the formation of the institution's
50	51		Galveston campus; he taught students at the University of Houston
51	52		Law Center, the UT Law School, and the Texas A&M campuses at
52	53		Galveston and Corpus Christi; in 2016, the City of Galveston
53	54		recognized his impact by naming "Babe's Beach" in his honor, and his
54	55		myriad accolades further included the inaugural Bob Eckhardt
55	56		Lifetime Coastal Achievement Award and the 1987 Distinguished
56	57		Service Award from the National Hurricane Conference,
57	58		acknowledging him as the first legislator in the nation to
58	59		recognize the need for hurricane preparedness; and
59	60		WHEREAS, The son of Joseph and Clara Schwartz, Senator
60	61		Schwartz grew up with four siblings, Louis, Ron, Steven, and
61	62		Phyllis; as a boy, he worked on the shore, renting beach gear and
62	63		serving as a lifeguard; he interrupted his education at Texas A&M
63	64		University to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served
64	65		in the Pacific theater; after moving to Austin for law school, he
65	66		met his future wife, the former Marilyn Ruth Cohn, and they married
66	67		in 1951; their family grew to include 4 sons, Bob, Dick, John, and
67	68		Tom, as well as 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; and
68	69		WHEREAS, Babe Schwartz worked tirelessly to improve the lives
69	70		of his fellow Texans and safeguard our state's priceless coastal
70	71		heritage, and although he is greatly missed by all who were
71	72		privileged to know him, his vision and leadership will continue to
72	73		resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it
73	74		RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
74	75		Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable
75	76		A. R. "Babe" Schwartz and extend deep sympathy to all who mourn his
76	77		passing; and, be it further
77	78		RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
78	79		prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
79	80		Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of former
80	81		state senator A. R. "Babe" Schwartz.
81		-	Hunter
82		-	Bonnen of Galveston
83		-	Middleton
84		-	Bonnen of Brazoria
85		-	Thompson of Harris
86		-	______________________________
87		-	Speaker of the House
88		-	I certify that H.R. No. 1302 was unanimously adopted by a
89		-	rising vote of the House on May 3, 2019.
90		-	______________________________
91		-	Chief Clerk of the House