H.R. No. 343
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of Dallas lost an esteemed businessman and
civic leader with the passing of Gerald Wayne Fronterhouse on
September 17, 2022, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, Born in Ada, Oklahoma, on May 22, 1936, Jerry
Fronterhouse was the son of Victor and Austa Fronterhouse; he
earned his bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the
University of Oklahoma, where he played football and served as
battalion commander for the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps;
following two years in the U.S. Navy, he completed his MBA at
Harvard Business School and began his career as a credit analyst
with Republic National Bank; he rose quickly in the company,
becoming president and chief operating officer at just 42; after
Republic's merger with First National, he was named chair and CEO of
First Republic, one of the country's largest bank holding
companies; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Fronterhouse served on the board of Texas
Instruments and many other companies; moreover, he gave freely of
his time and expertise as a member of the boards of numerous
nonprofit organizations, including the Hoblitzelle Foundation, UT
Southwestern Medical Foundation, Children's Medical Foundation,
Dallas Citizens Council, State Fair of Texas, Lamplighter School,
Hockaday School, and Highland Park United Methodist Church; he was
also a generous supporter of Harvard Business School; and
WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, Mr. Fronterhouse shared a
fulfilling marriage of 53 years with his college sweetheart, the
former Gretchen Gover; they were blessed with two children, Jenny
and Jeff; following the death of his first wife in 2012, he was
fortunate enough to find another great love with Annette Caldwell
Simmons, and they wed on Valentine's Day in 2016; he was a source of
encouragement and wise counsel to his nine grandchildren, Brant,
Lindsey, Lauren, Blake, Laney, Carson, Hayden, Alex, and Kara, and
he delighted in the arrival of four great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Fronterhouse was admired not only for his
accomplishments, but also for his warmth, kindness, integrity, and
optimism, and he will be remembered with deep affection by all who
were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Gerald Wayne
Fronterhouse and extend sincere sympathy to his family and many
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 Jerry
Fronterhouse.
Meyer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 343 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 8, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House