SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 8
In Memory
of
Tom Reid
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 State of Texas, 88th
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.
Middleton
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on June 30, 2023, by a
rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate