Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HR2411 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.R. No. 2411
2	2
3	3
4	4	R E S O L U T I O N
5	5	WHEREAS, The Capitol community was deeply saddened by the
6	6	loss of Robert Irwin Kelly, former parliamentarian of the Texas
7	7	House of Representatives and director of the Texas Legislative
8	8	Council, who passed away on December 9, 2021, at the age of 73; and
9	9	WHEREAS, Born to R. D. "Dick" Kelly and Betty Kelly in
10	10	Texarkana, Arkansas, on June 2, 1948, Bob Kelly grew up with a
11	11	sister, Debra; he excelled as a student, athlete, Eagle Scout, and
12	12	youth community leader, and along the way, he also took dance
13	13	lessons, earning the nickname "the Dancing Bear"; after initially
14	14	enrolling at the University of Arkansas on a football scholarship,
15	15	he wisely transferred to The University of Texas at Austin; and
16	16	WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly joined the Texas Legislative Council as
17	17	the "Xerox copy boy" and became a protégé of Robert E. Johnson, then
18	18	the agency's director and House parliamentarian; while learning the
19	19	ins and outs of legislative procedure and strategy, Mr. Kelly was
20	20	also embraced as a dear friend by the entire Johnson family; through
21	21	hard work and dedication, he became assistant parliamentarian, and
22	22	in 1981, Speaker Bill Clayton announced his appointment as
23	23	parliamentarian; and
24	24	WHEREAS, During his 21-year tenure as parliamentarian and
25	25	director of the Texas Legislative Council, Mr. Kelly also served
26	26	under Speakers Gib Lewis and Pete Laney; he taught rules classes,
27	27	mentored hundreds of council employees and freshman lawmakers, and
28	28	mediated battles between the political parties, demonstrating a
29	29	rare, statesmanlike ability to help people overcome their
30	30	differences; fiercely loyal to council staff, he was very
31	31	protective when legislators publicly attributed a drafting error or
32	32	undue delay to council staff; he was a brilliant tactician,
33	33	choosing his battles carefully, and although he set an example of
34	34	cordiality, he knew the value of a well-timed curse word, and he
35	35	made it a point to remember when someone was untruthful or broke a
36	36	promise; his efforts were always guided by respect for the
37	37	constitutions of the United States and Texas, as well as a profound
38	38	sense of public service; and
39	39	WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly was committed to the long-term success of
40	40	the Legislature; he oversaw the introduction of computers and
41	41	information technology to the legislative branch, and he was
42	42	instrumental in the development of the Robert E. Johnson Office
43	43	Building as a proper permanent home for the legislative support
44	44	agencies; in retirement, he continued to serve as a wise elder,
45	45	providing counsel to parliamentarians, legislators, and staff
46	46	alike; and
47	47	WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly enjoyed many interests in his free time;
48	48	an avid golfer, he was a longtime member of Onion Creek Club; he
49	49	spent many happy hours hunting birds in Mexico and Port O'Connor in
50	50	the company of friends, and he maintained a private pilot's license
51	51	for years; he was a member of the board of the Coastal Conservation
52	52	Association Texas, a lifetime member of the Texas Trophy Hunters
53	53	Association, and a proud member of the Masonic Lodge; and
54	54	WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Kelly was devoted to his wife, Susan
55	55	Stewart; they traveled, dined, and entertained extensively, but
56	56	their most treasured moments were spent together on their QA Ranch
57	57	outside Seguin, where the couple had settled near Mr. Kelly's dear
58	58	friend, the late Representative Edmund Kuempel; in his retirement
59	59	years, Mr. Kelly delighted in managing the ranch and watching the
60	60	deer and other critters; following his passing, he was laid to rest
61	61	shoulder-to-shoulder with iconic musician Jerry Jeff Walker at the
62	62	Texas State Cemetery, where the two of them no doubt entertain one
63	63	another with songs and yarns, and indulge in an occasional Lone
64	64	Star; and
65	65	WHEREAS, Bob Kelly dedicated his long and noteworthy career
66	66	to the betterment of Texas, earning the lasting respect and
67	67	admiration of all who were privileged to know him, and his
68	68	contributions to state government will continue to resonate for
69	69	many years to come; now, therefore, be it
70	70	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
71	71	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Robert Irwin Kelly
72	72	and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; and, be
73	73	it further
74	74	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
75	75	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
76	76	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bob Kelly.
77	77	Kuempel
78	78	______________________________
79	79	Speaker of the House
80	80	I certify that H.R. No. 2411 was unanimously adopted by a
81	81	rising vote of the House on May 29, 2023.
82	82	______________________________
83	83	Chief Clerk of the House