SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 516
In Memory
of
Mary O. Horn
WHEREAS, Denton County lost a trailblazing civic leader
with the passing of former county judge Mary O. Horn on April 21,
2023, at the age of 77; and
WHEREAS, The daughter of Lieutenant Commander
Dr. O. W. Roberts and Mary Ann Roberts, the former Mary Roberts
was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, on June 28, 1945; after studying
at Mankato State College and earning certification from the
Minnesota School of Business, she began working for Braniff
International Airways in Dallas as a flight attendant; she rose
to become the only woman among the top executives at the airline
before starting her own business in 1982; and
WHEREAS, On May 6, 1967, she married James Nathan "Jim"
Horn, and they settled in Denton, where they raised two children,
Jennifer and Jim; the couple founded the Denton County Republican
Party at their kitchen table in 1972, and Judge Horn campaigned
energetically for her husband in his successful campaign for a
seat in the Texas House of Representatives; in 1993, she became
the first woman to win election as Denton County tax
assessor-collector, and nine years later, she became the
county's first female judge; during an era of phenomenal growth,
she worked tirelessly to maintain a low tax rate while improving
efficiency and providing a high level of service to residents;
she increased budget reserves, paving the way for a AAA bond
rating, modernized the county's taxing systems, and made motor
vehicle registration more convenient by creating an online
system; in 2004 and 2008, voters approved two bond packages, and
she leveraged $335 million in local funds to bring over $3
billion for road improvements and construction, expansion, or
renovation of county buildings; she retired in 2018, following
four consecutive terms, as the longest-serving county judge in
Denton County history; and
WHEREAS, Judge Horn shared her expertise in leadership
roles with a host of local and state organizations, and she was
vice chair of the Texas Workforce Development Board; she served
many terms as president of the Denton Republican Women's Club,
and she was the Texas Federation of Republican Women's 1988
honoree; and
WHEREAS, Above all, Judge Horn was devoted to her family,
which grew to include eight grandchildren, Michael, Elle, Knox,
Francie, Houston, Olive, Morgan, and Ashton; her greatest joy was
spending time with them, whether attending their athletic events
or reading stories, singing songs, and making up silly games; and
WHEREAS, Mary Horn broke down barriers and skillfully
guided Denton County during a transformative period, and
although she will be deeply missed, her exceptional
contributions will continue to resonate in the years to come;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
Mary O. Horn and extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn her
passing; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns
this day, it do so in memory of Mary Horn.
Springer
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 4, 2023, by a
rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate