H.C.R. No. 4
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable Walter David Counts Jr. of Knox City,
a former state representative and brevet brigadier general in the
Texas Army National Guard, passed away on August 18, 2023, at the
age of 87; and
WHEREAS, Born in Munday on July 14, 1936, David Counts was the
son of Walter and Alma Counts; he grew up in Rule and attended West
Texas State College and North Texas State College; in 1953, he
joined the Texas Army National Guard, and over the course of 32
years in the military, he attained the rank of colonel;
then-governor George W. Bush promoted him to brevet brigadier
general following his retirement; among other honors, he received
the General K. L. Bailey Award for heroism and the Minute Man Award
for outstanding service; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Counts wed the love of his life, the former Mary
Mullins, on July 15, 1956; they became the proud parents of two
children, Patti and David, and through the years, their family grew
to include four grandchildren, Seth, Jennifer, Sarah, and Matthew,
as well as eight great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Settling in Knox City, Mr. Counts established Counts
Insurance Agency in 1960; he operated the business for 35 years, and
he also founded Counts Real Estate; in addition, he owned a
bookkeeping and tax service for a decade and grew wheat and cotton
in Knox, Stonewall, and Haskell Counties; he served as vice
president and director of Rolling Plains Well Service, as president
and chair of Chap Operating Company, as director and treasurer of
Perry Pump Service, and as a director of both First Bank of West
Texas and Western Bancshares; moreover, he was a member of the board
of the Texas Association of Realtors; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Counts was first elected to the Texas House of
Representatives in 1988, and for the next 15 years, he worked
tirelessly in behalf of his constituents, who resided primarily in
the North Central Plains region; he chaired the Natural Resources
Committee for a decade, co-chaired the Water Resources Committee,
and served on many other committees, including the Insurance,
Redistricting, and State Affairs Committees; he authored a
constitutional amendment to exempt Masonic lodges from ad valorem
taxes; and
WHEREAS, A member of the Masons for more than six decades, Mr.
Counts was raised to the degree of Master Mason in 1961, and he
served three separate terms as Worshipful Master; he began his
association with the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1971 and rose to become
Most Worshipful Grand Master, the highest office in Texas Masonry,
in 2008; he gave generously of his time and talents to a host of
Masonic groups, and he served as treasurer of Masonic Children &
Family Services of Texas and as a trustee of Scottish Rite for
Children; the recipient of numerous honors, he was inducted into
the Masonic Grand Lodge Library and Museum of Texas Sam Houston Hall
of Fame and served as a patron of the library and museum; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Counts also contributed to the greater community
through his longtime service as a director of the Knox City Chamber
of Commerce and as a member of the Knox City Lions Club; he
benefited higher education as a member of several boards, including
the development board of Hardin-Simmons University; he was a valued
congregant of First Baptist Church of Knox City and gave generously
of his time and resources to Gideons International; and
WHEREAS, David Counts lived a life that was rich in public
service and in personal and professional achievements, and his
contributions will be remembered and admired for years to come;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas,
4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Walter David
Counts Jr. and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
family: to his wife, Mary Counts; to his children, Patti Counts
Holmes and her husband, Steve, and David Counts III and his wife,
Jill; to his grandchildren, Seth Barnett and his wife, Jenni,
Jennifer McCann and her husband, Josh, Sarah Grace and her husband,
Jacob, and Matthew Counts and his wife, Allie; to his eight
great-grandchildren; to his sister, Cheryl Robinson, and her
husband, Bobby; and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
David Counts.
Craddick
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 4 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on November 17, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 4 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the Senate on November 30, 2023.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor