86R19345 BPG-D
By: Wu H.R. No. 914
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost an esteemed lawmaker and
dedicated public servant with the death of former State
Representative and Harris County Commissioner Tom Bass on March 3,
2019, at the age of 92; and
WHEREAS, A third-generation Houstonian, Tom Bass was born to
Mary Lee Scoggins Bass and Thomas Hutcheson Bass on January 11,
1927; he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944, and although World War
II soon ended, he remained in the Army Reserve until 1980, rising to
the rank of colonel; after graduating from The University of Texas
in 1950, he married his sweetheart, the former Mary Ann King, and
they became the parents of 10 children, Martin Gerard, who
predeceased him, and Patty, Paul, Rita, Amy, Vicki, Bob, Dan,
Laura, and David; and
WHEREAS, Representative Bass began his career in education
with the Houston Independent School District, and following his
graduate studies, he taught political science at Dominican College
and the University of St. Thomas; his interest in politics led him
to run for office, and in 1962, he won election to the Texas House of
Representatives from Harris County; he chaired the committees on
school districts, narcotics investigating, interim activities, and
juvenile crime and delinquency and served on a number of others;
during the 62nd Legislature, he was a founding member of the "Dirty
Thirty," who crossed party lines to force out several prominent
state leaders enmeshed in the Sharpstown stock-fraud scandal; he
worked tirelessly to promote civil rights and to ensure that the
redistricting process gave a voice to previously disenfranchised
African American and Latino voters; and
WHEREAS, Following a decade in the legislature,
Representative Bass was elected to the Harris County Commissioners
Court; he fostered greater transparency, persuading the court to
publish meeting agendas; recognizing the challenges population
growth would bring, he spearheaded county efforts to buy up
flood-prone land, leading to the creation of parks and green belts;
in addition, he took a proactive approach to building
transportation and health care infrastructure; he was also aware of
changing demographics, and following the 1980 census, he pushed his
colleagues to redraw the county precinct boundaries to ensure
Precinct 1 was majority-minority; in 1985, he stepped down in order
to clear the way for African American candidates; and
WHEREAS, Representative Bass continued to work in behalf of
his fellow citizens, bringing the state's first 9-1-1 District to
the county; in recognition of his contributions, the county named
Tom Bass Regional Park and the Greater Harris 9-1-1 critical call
center building in his honor; and
WHEREAS, A longtime member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church,
Representative Bass served as a lector, Eucharistic minister, and
member of the pastoral council; he was an avid runner, and he won
hundreds of age awards and competed in three Boston Marathons and
dozens of other long-distance races; into his 80s, he competed at
all levels of the Senior Olympics; he had friends of all ages and
played for pennies with his regular poker group; above all, he
enjoyed spending time with a large extended family, including 23
grandchildren and 2 great-granddaughters, as well as many cousins;
and
WHEREAS, Gentle, kind, and unassuming, Tom Bass always looked
out for those most vulnerable and sought to make democracy more
responsive and representative; he addressed issues at the state and
local levels with vision and principled leadership, and he will be
remembered with deep admiration and affection by all who were
fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Tom Bass
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 former
State Representative Tom Bass.