H.R. No. 1302
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Irving lost an admired civic leader
with the passing of Ronald Keith Umphress on April 6, 2021, at the
age of 89; and
WHEREAS, The son of John and Exa Mae Umphress, Ronald
Umphress was born in Blue Ridge on November 29, 1931, and grew up on
a farm as the youngest of 10 children; he was a dairy farmer before
going to work for Citizens State Bank in Princeton; quickly rising
to become executive vice president, he went on to join Southwest
Bank of Irving and later guided its growth as president; he also
founded Park Insurance Agency; following his retirement, he was
called upon by the FDIC to restore Citizens State Bank to an "A"
rating, a success that capped his 50-year career; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Umphress served his fellow citizens in myriad
leadership roles, including director of the Irving Community
Concert Series and the Irving Retail Merchants Executive Club; as
president of the Irving Chamber of Commerce, he was instrumental in
bringing Texas Stadium to Irving, and he was a member of the Texas
Rangers' Club, which helped establish the baseball team; he served
on the boards of Irving Community Hospital and the YMCA, and he gave
generously of his time and expertise to the Lions Club and Rotary
Club, among many other worthwhile organizations; a valued
congregant of Plymouth Park Baptist Church, he was a member of the
board of deacons and sang at many weddings and funerals; and
WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Umphress was devoted to his family;
he shared 63 years of marriage with his wife, Peggy Sue Cantrell
Umphress, before her passing, and he took great pride in his 3
children, Brian, Pam, and Jan, as well as his 9 grandchildren,
Autumn, Todd, Brandon, Lisa, Rian, Chris, Molli, Matti, and Bailey,
and his 16 great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, The life of Ronald Umphress stands as an outstanding
example of civic engagement, and although he is deeply missed by
those he left behind, his work will be remembered and admired for
years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ronald Keith Umphress
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 Ronald
Umphress.
Spiller
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1302 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 26, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House