Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR559 Compare Versions

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1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 559
2	2	In Memory
3	3	of
4	4	Mary Horn
5	5	WHEREAS, Denton County lost a trailblazing civic leader
6	6	with the passing of former county judge Mary O. Horn on April 21,
7	7	2023, at the age of 77; and
8	8	WHEREAS, The daughter of Lieutenant Commander
9	9	Dr. O. W. Roberts and Mary Ann Roberts, the former Mary Roberts
10	10	was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, on June 28, 1945; after studying
11	11	at Mankato State College and earning certification from the
12	12	Minnesota School of Business, she began working for Braniff
13	13	International Airways in Dallas as a flight attendant; she rose
14	14	to become the only woman among the top executives at the airline
15	15	before starting her own business in 1982; and
16	16	WHEREAS, On May 6, 1967, she married James Nathan "Jim"
17	17	Horn, and they settled in Denton, where they raised two children,
18	18	Jennifer and Jim; the couple founded the Denton County Republican
19	19	Party at their kitchen table in 1972, and Judge Horn campaigned
20	20	energetically for her husband in his successful campaign for a
21	21	seat in the Texas House of Representatives; in 1993, she became
22	22	the first woman to win election as Denton County tax
23	23	assessor-collector, and nine years later, she became the
24	24	county's first female judge; during an era of phenomenal growth,
25	25	she worked tirelessly to maintain a low tax rate while improving
26	26	efficiency and providing a high level of service to residents;
27	27	she increased budget reserves, paving the way for a AAA bond
28	28	rating, modernized the county's taxing systems, and made motor
29	29	vehicle registration more convenient by creating an online
30	30	system; in 2004 and 2008, voters approved two bond packages, and
31	31	she leveraged $335 million in local funds to bring over $3
32	32	billion for road improvements and construction, expansion, or
33	33	renovation of county buildings; she retired in 2018, following
34	34	four consecutive terms, as the longest-serving county judge in
35	35	Denton County history; and
36	36	WHEREAS, Judge Horn shared her expertise in leadership
37	37	roles with a host of local and state organizations, and she was
38	38	vice chair of the Texas Workforce Development Board; she served
39	39	many terms as president of the Denton Republican Women's Club,
40	40	and she was the Texas Federation of Republican Women's 1988
41	41	honoree; and
42	42	WHEREAS, Above all, Judge Horn was devoted to her family,
43	43	which grew to include eight grandchildren, Michael, Elle, Knox,
44	44	Francie, Houston, Olive, Morgan, and Ashton; her greatest joy was
45	45	spending time with them, whether attending their athletic events
46	46	or reading stories, singing songs, and making up silly games; and
47	47	WHEREAS, Mary Horn broke down barriers and skillfully
48	48	guided Denton County during a transformative period, and
49	49	although she will be deeply missed, her exceptional
50	50	contributions will continue to resonate in the years to come;
51	51	now, therefore, be it
52	52	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
53	53	Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
54	54	Mary O. Horn and extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn her
55	55	passing; and, be it further
56	56	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
57	57	prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns
58	58	this day, it do so in memory of Mary Horn.
59	59	Springer, Parker
60	60	________________________________
61	61	President of the Senate
62	62	I hereby certify that the
63	63	above Resolution was adopted by
64	64	the Senate on May 12, 2023, by a
65	65	rising vote.
66	66	________________________________
67	67	Secretary of the Senate
68	68	________________________________
69	69	Member, Texas Senate
70	70	________________________________
71	71	Member, Texas Senate