H.R. No. 1555
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The residents of Abilene lost an admired champion of
higher education and friend to all with the passing of former state
representative Dr. Robert D. Hunter on February 11, 2023, at the
age of 94; and
WHEREAS, The son of Grover Cleveland Hunter and Grace May
Grubb Hunter, Bob Hunter was born in Dodge City, Kansas, on June 25,
1928; he grew up with 11 siblings, and after moving to California,
he graduated from high school in San Mateo; he relocated to Texas to
enroll at Abilene Christian College, beginning a lifelong
affiliation with the institution that would later become Abilene
Christian University; a leader in campus life during his
undergraduate years, he sang in the A Cappella Chorus and Men's
Quartet and served as president of several organizations; he was
also vice president of the Student Association and a statewide
officer in the Texas Intercollegiate Student Association; after
completing his bachelor's degree in business, he served in the U.S.
Navy during the Korean War, both in the Far East and with the
National Security Agency in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Hunter returned to his beloved college alma
mater as director of special events, and in 1957, he was named its
first director of alumni relations; later, as assistant to the
president, he directed the 10-year Design for Development that led
to the construction of many new buildings; he eventually rose to
become senior vice president, a role that encompassed government
relations, before his retirement in 1993; committed to enriching
the student and alumni experience, he originated more than two
dozen ACU traditions, including Freshman Follies, the Parade of
Flags at Opening Assembly, the President's Circle Dinner, the
annual alumni awards program, Sing Song, and the Homecoming
Musical; he was known for his warm smile and trademark greeting,
"Hello, friend," and his tremendous enthusiasm and congeniality
helped define the ACU spirit; and
WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Dr. Hunter also served the wider
community during a term on the Abilene City Council; from 1970 to
1980, he was executive vice president of the Independent Colleges
and Universities of Texas, and he galvanized support for the
legislation creating the Tuition Equalization Grant program; since
its establishment, students at private institutions in the state
have received Tuition Equalization Grants totaling more than
$2.6 billion; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Hunter became the first Taylor County
Republican to win a seat in the Texas House of Representatives when
he was elected in 1986, and he was returned to office in the next 10
elections; working tirelessly in behalf of his constituents and
higher education in general, he missed just a single roll-call vote
over the course of two decades, when his doctors refused his pleas
to release him while he was being evaluated for a possible heart
attack; for a decade, he chaired the Committee on State, Federal and
International Relations, and he later led the House Research
Organization; and
WHEREAS, In 1990, Representative Hunter championed
legislation to enable Cisco College to build a campus in Abilene;
when the bill faced a potential veto from Governor William
P. Clements, who was displeased with a previous vote by the
representative, Dr. Hunter selflessly removed his name from the
legislation, and the measure became law; the next year, he was
appointed chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee on Budget and
Oversight, bringing to that role his deep expertise in the state's
dual system of higher education; in addition, he was vice chair for
the Committee on Regulated Industries and co-chair of the Special
House Select Committee on NAFTA and GATT international trade
agreements; no matter how stressful the situation, he lived up to
his nickname, "Smilin' Bob," and he brightened the days and earned
the affection of countless people in the Capitol community; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Hunter further benefited Abilene as a member of
the boards and advisory boards of numerous organizations, among
them the Classical Chorus of Abilene, Meals on Wheels, the West
Texas Rehabilitation Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and the
Abilene/Taylor County Child Advocacy Center; moreover, he was a
lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion and, for over a
half century, he was an active member of University Church of
Christ; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of myriad accolades, Dr. Hunter was
awarded honorary doctorates by ACU, Texas Wesleyan University, the
University of St. Thomas, Austin College, Hardin-Simmons
University, McMurry University, and Pepperdine University in
California; in February 2006, ACU named its Robert D. and Shirley
Hunter Welcome Center in honor of Dr. Hunter and his wife; the
couple married on May 27, 1954, and they were blessed with three
children, Kent, Carole, and Les, as well as numerous grandchildren
and great-grandchildren; Mrs. Hunter passed away in 2021; and
WHEREAS, The loss of Bob Hunter is keenly felt by the
multitude of friends that he made and the many people whose lives he
forever enriched, but his enormous contributions will continue to
resonate in the years to come, and he will forever hold a special
place in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
Dr. Robert D. Hunter and extend sincere condolences to the members
of his family: to his children and their spouses, Kent Hunter and
Jonathan Blumberg, Carole Phillips and her husband, Danny, and Les
Hunter; to his grandchildren and their spouses, Landon and Jennifer
Phillips, Chad and Aundrea Phillips, Mitchell and Emily Danesi,
Dino Hunter, and Lyra Hunter; to his great-grandchildren, Crawford
Danesi, Henley Danesi, Beckham Phillips, and Kenzo Phillips; and to
his other relatives and friends; 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 Dr. Bob
Hunter.
Lambert
Phelan Guerra Murr Phelan Guerra Murr
Phelan Guerra Murr
Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allison Harless Noble Allison Harless Noble
Allison Harless Noble
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Ashby Harrison Orr Ashby Harrison Orr
Ashby Harrison Orr
Bailes Hayes Ortega Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bernal Herrero Perez Bernal Herrero Perez
Bernal Herrero Perez
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bonnen Holland Price Bonnen Holland Price
Bonnen Holland Price
Bowers Howard Ramos Bowers Howard Ramos
Bowers Howard Ramos
Bryant Hull Raney Bryant Hull Raney
Bryant Hull Raney
Buckley Hunter Raymond Buckley Hunter Raymond
Buckley Hunter Raymond
Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Canales Kacal Schofield Canales Kacal Schofield
Canales Kacal Schofield
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Cole Kitzman Shine Cole Kitzman Shine
Cole Kitzman Shine
Collier Klick Slawson Collier Klick Slawson
Collier Klick Slawson
Cook Kuempel Smith Cook Kuempel Smith
Cook Kuempel Smith
Cortez Lalani Smithee Cortez Lalani Smithee
Cortez Lalani Smithee
Craddick Lambert Spiller Craddick Lambert Spiller
Craddick Lambert Spiller
Cunningham Landgraf Stucky Cunningham Landgraf Stucky
Cunningham Landgraf Stucky
Darby Leach Swanson Darby Leach Swanson
Darby Leach Swanson
Davis Leo-Wilson Talarico Davis Leo-Wilson Talarico
Davis Leo-Wilson Talarico
Dean Longoria Tepper Dean Longoria Tepper
Dean Longoria Tepper
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Thierry DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Thierry
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Thierry
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thimesch Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thimesch
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thimesch
Dutton Lozano Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lozano Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Lozano Thompson of Brazoria
Flores Lujan Thompson of Harris Flores Lujan Thompson of Harris
Flores Lujan Thompson of Harris
Frank Manuel Tinderholt Frank Manuel Tinderholt
Frank Manuel Tinderholt
Frazier Martinez Toth Frazier Martinez Toth
Frazier Martinez Toth
Gamez Martinez Fischer Troxclair Gamez Martinez Fischer Troxclair
Gamez Martinez Fischer Troxclair
Garcia Metcalf Turner Garcia Metcalf Turner
Garcia Metcalf Turner
Gates Meyer VanDeaver Gates Meyer VanDeaver
Gates Meyer VanDeaver
Gerdes Meza Vasut Gerdes Meza Vasut
Gerdes Meza Vasut
Geren Moody Vo Geren Moody Vo
Geren Moody Vo
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Walle Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Walle
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Walle
Goldman Morales of Maverick Wilson Goldman Morales of Maverick Wilson
Goldman Morales of Maverick Wilson
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wu González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wu
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wu
González of El Paso Morrison Zwiener González of El Paso Morrison Zwiener
González of El Paso Morrison Zwiener
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Goodwin Muñoz, Jr.
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr.
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1555 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on May 16, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Phelan Guerra Murr
Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allison Harless Noble
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Ashby Harrison Orr
Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bernal Herrero Perez
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bonnen Holland Price
Bowers Howard Ramos
Bryant Hull Raney
Buckley Hunter Raymond
Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Canales Kacal Schofield
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Cole Kitzman Shine
Collier Klick Slawson
Cook Kuempel Smith
Cortez Lalani Smithee
Craddick Lambert Spiller
Cunningham Landgraf Stucky
Darby Leach Swanson
Davis Leo-Wilson Talarico
Dean Longoria Tepper
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Thierry
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thimesch
Dutton Lozano Thompson of Brazoria
Flores Lujan Thompson of Harris
Frank Manuel Tinderholt
Frazier Martinez Toth
Gamez Martinez Fischer Troxclair
Garcia Metcalf Turner
Gates Meyer VanDeaver
Gerdes Meza Vasut
Geren Moody Vo
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Walle
Goldman Morales of Maverick Wilson
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wu
González of El Paso Morrison Zwiener
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr.