SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 630
In Memory
of
Bill Haley
WHEREAS, The passing of former Texas State
Representative and Senator James William Haley of Austin on
July 3, 2022, at the age of 78, brought a great loss to his
family and many friends; and
WHEREAS, Born in Center on September 22, 1943, Bill Haley
was the son of Eugene Wayne "Pete" Haley Sr. and Mary Elizabeth
Miller Haley, and he grew up with the company of his brothers,
Eugene and Thomas; he graduated from Texas Christian University
and went on to earn his teaching certificate at Stephen F. Austin
State University and a master's degree at Texas State University;
during a career in public education that spanned more than a
dozen years in Houston and then Center, he taught government,
American history, and economics courses, making the subjects fun
and interesting while encouraging students to excel; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Haley won a special election for a seat in the
Texas House of Representatives in 1978, and he took a leading
role in enacting sweeping education reforms; widely acknowledged
as the most vigorous in the nation at the time, the changes
limited class size, set standards for student performance and
teacher competency, and raised educator pay rates; he served as
chair of the House Public Education Committee, as well as
subcommittees on Public Education Appropriative Matters and
Budget and Oversight; in addition, he was a member of several
other committees, among them State Affairs and Financial
Institutions; and
WHEREAS, Following his election to the Texas Senate in
1988, he remained an ardent champion of education, earning the
nickname "East Texas Maverick" from writer Molly Ivins for both
his East Texas drawl and his tenacity; Senator Haley co-chaired
the Interim Committee on Proprietary Schools, chaired the
Interim Committee on Education, and served as vice chair of the
Senate Education Committee and chair of the Special Committee on
Administration; throughout his tenure in public office, he was
known for both his keen insight and his wit; in one of his
better-known jests, he offered a tongue-in-cheek bill amendment
to route an intercity bullet train through his hometown, with its
population of 6,000, a tactic that earned a whimsical "Best
Boondoggle" award from Texas Monthly; the recipient of numerous
more serious accolades, he was accorded the Friend of Education
Award by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association and Champion of
Education Award by the Texas Elementary Principals and
Supervisors Association, among many others; and
WHEREAS, Senator Haley returned to private life in 1995; a
valued member of University Christian Church, he served in
various leadership roles, including elder and chair of the board,
and he enjoyed teaching the Seekers church school class for 23
years; dedicated to his alma mater, he was active on the board of
the Austin Chapter of the TCU Alumni Association, and he was a
member of the Austin Regional Council, the National Alumni Board,
and the executive board of the TCU College of Fine Arts Board of
Visitors; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Senator Haley enjoyed the
love and support of his wife, Mary, and the couple formed a strong
team, having known each other since childhood; he took great
pride in his sons, Jeffrey and Robert, and he had the pleasure of
seeing his family grow to include five grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Through his unyielding commitment to education,
Bill Haley made significant contributions to his fellow Texans,
and his warmth, kindness, and sense of humor enriched the lives
of all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
James William Haley and extend sincere condolences to the members
of his family: to his wife, Mary Russell Scriven Haley; to his
sons, Jeffrey Russell Haley and his wife Michele, and Robert
Colin Haley and his wife, Lisa Marie; to his grandchildren,
William Russell Haley, Jonathan Michael Haley, Andrew
Christopher Haley, Ava Brooke Haley, and Alexis Giuliana Haley;
to his brother, Thomas Laurence Haley, and his wife, Michelle;
and to his other relatives 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 Senate adjourns
this day, it do so in memory of former State Senator Bill Haley.
Zaffirini
Alvarado Hancock Miles Alvarado Hancock Miles
Alvarado Hancock Miles
Bettencourt Hinojosa Nichols Bettencourt Hinojosa Nichols
Bettencourt Hinojosa Nichols
Birdwell Huffman Parker Birdwell Huffman Parker
Birdwell Huffman Parker
Blanco Hughes Paxton Blanco Hughes Paxton
Blanco Hughes Paxton
Campbell Johnson Perry Campbell Johnson Perry
Campbell Johnson Perry
Creighton King Schwertner Creighton King Schwertner
Creighton King Schwertner
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Flores LaMantia Springer Flores LaMantia Springer
Flores LaMantia Springer
Gutierrez Menéndez West Gutierrez Menéndez West
Gutierrez Menéndez West
Hall Middleton Whitmire Hall Middleton Whitmire
Hall Middleton Whitmire
Patrick, President of the Senate
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 23, 2023, by a
rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
Alvarado Hancock Miles
Bettencourt Hinojosa Nichols
Birdwell Huffman Parker
Blanco Hughes Paxton
Campbell Johnson Perry
Creighton King Schwertner
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Flores LaMantia Springer
Gutierrez Menéndez West
Hall Middleton Whitmire