H.R. No. 23
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Austin lost a visionary civic leader
with the passing of former city council member Chris Riley on July
28, 2024, at the age of 60; and
WHEREAS, The son of Eva and Peter Riley, Chris Riley was born
in Austin in 1964; he worked as a congressional page in Washington,
D.C., as an Austin High School student; after receiving a
bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University, he
completed his law degree at The University of Texas at Austin; he
was employed by the Texas Supreme Court before entering private
practice; a dedicated urbanist, he made his home in downtown Austin
when the residential population was in decline, and in 1997 he
cofounded the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association, which he
later served as president; preferring to commute by bike, he got rid
of his car, and he encouraged greater use of Wooldridge Square Park
by picking up trash and bringing a giant chess set to the park for
weekly games; he also led Bike Austin before facilitating its
merger with other groups to form Safe Streets Austin; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Riley served for seven years on the Planning
Commission and won election to the city council in 2009; during two
terms in office, he championed greater density to provide more
housing; he was instrumental in the city's adoption of its Bicycle
Master Plan and the National Association of City Transportation
Officials' street design standards, recognizing the need for better
infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists; moreover, his
passionate advocacy eventually led the city to embrace such
concepts as parking reform, accessory dwelling units, and mass
transit-adjacent density; continuing his mission in private life,
he earned a master's degree in urban placemaking and management
from the Pratt Institute in New York; and
WHEREAS, Chris Riley helped guide Austin's progress as a
vibrant, well-connected city, and his kindness, integrity, and
devotion to his community will remain a source of inspiration to all
who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Chris Riley and extend
sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Denise
Brady; to his parents, Eva and Peter Riley; to his siblings, Joan
Laves Reitblatt and her husband, David, Ken Riley, and Michael
Riley and his wife, Virginia; 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Chris
Riley.
Cole
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 23 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on March 6, 2025.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House