88S20125 BK-D
By: Middleton S.R. No. 8
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of Pearland lost a greatly admired civic
leader with the passing of Mayor Emeritus Tom Reid on June 24, 2023,
at the age of 97; and
WHEREAS, Born in Houston in 1925, Tom Reid was the son of
Thomas Joel and Hazel Nichols Reid; after proudly serving his
country as a member of the United States Navy during World War II,
he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from The
University of Texas in 1951, and as a student there, he held
membership in the Texas Cowboys and Chi Phi Fraternity; and
WHEREAS, In 1965, Mr. Reid moved to Pearland, where he
enjoyed a 32-year career as a contractor for NASA's Johnson Space
Center; over the course of his tenure with NASA, he was responsible
for overseeing and managing the budgets for the Gemini, Apollo,
Apollo-Soyuz, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Reid served Pearland as mayor from 1978 to 1990
and again from 1993 to 2020, and his long tenure coincided with a
number of major developments, including the expansion of the city's
western border and improvements to its public safety services and
parks and trails systems; during that time, Pearland also
experienced a significant increase in new businesses and large
residential properties that contributed to its economic growth; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Reid's active involvement in the community
further included service as a city planning commissioner and as
chair of the Pearland Library board and Brazoria Drainage District
No. 4; an Eagle Scout, he also contributed to the Boy Scouts
organization as a scoutmaster and Scout Troop Committee chair, and
he volunteered his time in behalf of Pearland ISD, the Pearland
Historical Society, the Pearland Arts League, the C. F. Spencer
Masonic Lodge No. 1384, and other organizations; he was the first
citizen to be awarded the title of mayor emeritus, and his
outstanding record of service was further recognized with the
naming of a U.S. Post Office in his honor; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Reid enjoyed the love and
support of a fine family that included his two children, Trisha and
Carl, and his granddaughter, Nikki; and
WHEREAS, The life of Tom Reid stands as an inspiring example
of the good that one person can accomplish, and he leaves behind a
legacy that will resonate in the Pearland community for many years
to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 2nd
Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Mayor Emeritus
Tom Reid and extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn his
passing; 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 Tom Reid.