H.R. No. 34
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Patricia Harlow Pangburn of Irving passed away on
September 17, 2021, at the age of 77, following more than 30 years
of showing cancer who was the more determined fighter; and
WHEREAS, Born on May 4, 1944, the former Pat Harlow spent her
early childhood in Alton, Illinois; she attended high school in
North Texas and quickly set about making state politics more fair
and more fun; a staunch Democrat, she brought to countless
campaigns both iron-willed idealism and formidable skill as a
fundraiser and street-smart strategist; she took on the powerful
with gusto and relished opportunities to facilitate the rise of
women in Texas Democratic politics; in 1990, she played a key role
in the successful gubernatorial run of Ann Richards, who later
appointed her chair of the Texas Racing Commission; while
recognizing the impact of public policy, she also found politics
wildly amusing and loved to laugh at the foibles of its
practitioners, whether her opponents or herself; and
WHEREAS, She met her future husband, Dr. Howard Pangburn,
when she was a college student seeking a quick filling at the dental
school; they married in 1967 and lived in Turkey during his military
service; after settling in Southlake and then Irving, Ms. Pangburn
raised two children, Leslie and Brent, in between political battles
and sudden skirmishes with ideological adversaries; every year, she
and her husband reprised their first date at the opening day of the
Texas State Fair; she eventually became the proud grandmother of
Carson and Addison, and when not vacationing with them, she loved
sending them silly videos and having long FaceTime chats; endowed
with remarkable people skills, she cultivated an ever-widening
circle of friends, among them the members of the Pat PAC, a rowdy
lunch and politics group known for its ability to empty nearby
restaurant tables; she knew everything about everyone and delighted
in connecting like-minded individuals, as well as helping friends,
neighbors, and even casual acquaintances through failed romances,
family feuds, professional disasters, and personal crises; in
addition, she doted on her many pets, including H. Ross Parrot,
taught to do a memorable impression of his namesake, and Motts III,
an adored and adoring Bouvier des Flandres; and
WHEREAS, Pat Pangburn worked tirelessly to make the world a
better place while brightening the days of all who knew her, and
they will forever treasure their memories of time spent in her
company; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Patricia Harlow Pangburn and extend sincere sympathy to her loved
ones; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Pat
Pangburn.
Turner of Tarrant
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 34 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on October 14, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House