H.R. No. 647
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Capitol community is mourning the loss of Gordon
Robert Johnson, who passed away on March 16, 2025, at the age of 63;
and
WHEREAS, The son of Judith Cissna Scott Johnson and Robert
Ellis Johnson, Gordon Johnson was born in Dallas on December 26,
1961; his family moved to Austin when he was a child, and he
practically grew up at the Capitol, where his father served as House
parliamentarian and as executive director of the Texas Legislative
Council; after earning a bachelor's degree in engineering from
Texas A&M University and a law degree from South Texas College of
Law, he practiced briefly in Houston; he spent the rest of his
career in the family law firm, Johnson and Johnson, representing
clients in both the public and private sectors; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson had a deep understanding of the inner
workings of state government, and he was able to resolve even the
most complicated or controversial of issues; an advisor to numerous
public officials, he served for many years as political director
for House speaker Joe Straus, and he was instrumental in securing
passage of the Texas Racing Act and other key legislation;
good-natured and generous with his time and knowledge, he was a
mentor to many; and
WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Johnson was devoted to his loved
ones; he spent countless happy hours watching his son, Reed, play
sports, and they enjoyed many adventures together, from
international travel and deep sea fishing to hunting and working on
the ranch; eventually, he knew the joy of welcoming a
daughter-in-law, Taylor, and granddaughter, Jemma, into his
family, and his fulfilling 28-year marriage to Julie Johnson
brought him four treasured stepchildren; deeply kind, he cared for
a number of foster dogs; and
WHEREAS, While the death of Gordon Johnson brings
immeasurable sorrow to his family and friends, he leaves behind a
legacy that will long be treasured by all those who held him dear;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Gordon Robert Johnson
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
wife, Julie Hull Johnson; to his son, Reed Johnson, and his wife,
Taylor; to his grandchild, Jemma Johnson; to his siblings, Robert
Ellis Johnson Jr. and his wife, Teresa, Stanley Scott Johnson, and
Karen Johnson Pounds; to his stepchildren, Jennifer Coffee O'Neill,
Elizabeth Coffee McQueen, Dr. Katherine Coffee Janus, and Benjamin
Coffee; 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 Gordon
Johnson.
King
Geren
Ashby
Darby
Guillen
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Alders Guillen Morgan Alders Guillen Morgan
Alders Guillen Morgan
Allen Harless Muñoz Allen Harless Muñoz
Allen Harless Muñoz
Anchía Harris Noble Anchía Harris Noble
Anchía Harris Noble
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Barry Harrison Oliverson Barry Harrison Oliverson
Barry Harrison Oliverson
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bernal Hernandez Patterson Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bhojani Hickland Paul Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bryant Hopper Phelan Bryant Hopper Phelan
Bryant Hopper Phelan
Buckley Howard Pierson Buckley Howard Pierson
Buckley Howard Pierson
Bucy Hull Plesa Bucy Hull Plesa
Bucy Hull Plesa
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Cain Johnson Richardson Cain Johnson Richardson
Cain Johnson Richardson
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Canales Jones of Harris Romero Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Capriglione Kerwin Rose Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Cole King Rosenthal Cole King Rosenthal
Cole King Rosenthal
Collier Kitzman Schatzline Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Cook LaHood Schofield Cook LaHood Schofield
Cook LaHood Schofield
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Craddick Lambert Shaheen Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Curry Leach Simmons Curry Leach Simmons
Curry Leach Simmons
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
Dorazio Louderback Tepper Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dutton Lowe Thompson Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Fairly Lujan Toth Fairly Lujan Toth
Fairly Lujan Toth
Flores Luther Troxclair Flores Luther Troxclair
Flores Luther Troxclair
Frank Manuel Turner Frank Manuel Turner
Frank Manuel Turner
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Gates Metcalf Vo Gates Metcalf Vo
Gates Metcalf Vo
Gerdes Meyer Walle Gerdes Meyer Walle
Gerdes Meyer Walle
Geren Meza Ward Johnson Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
González of Dallas Moody Wilson González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 647 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on April 1, 2025.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Alders Guillen Morgan
Allen Harless Muñoz
Anchía Harris Noble
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Barry Harrison Oliverson
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bryant Hopper Phelan
Buckley Howard Pierson
Bucy Hull Plesa
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Cain Johnson Richardson
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Cole King Rosenthal
Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Cook LaHood Schofield
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Curry Leach Simmons
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Fairly Lujan Toth
Flores Luther Troxclair
Frank Manuel Turner
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Gates Metcalf Vo
Gerdes Meyer Walle
Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener