| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
|
|
passing of James B. Prewitt, who passed away on April 10, 2021, at |
|
|
the age of 80; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Jim Prewitt was born on November 13, 1940, and he was |
|
|
raised on the family farm near Kirbyville, where he developed a |
|
|
lifelong love and appreciation for agriculture; at a young age, he |
|
|
lost his arm in a farming accident, a traumatic experience that |
|
|
ultimately helped reinforce his resilient spirit and never deterred |
|
|
him from hard work; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Prewitt attended Sam Houston State University |
|
|
and met the woman who would be his partner in life, love, and |
|
|
business, Paula Biggs; they shared 58 years of marriage and were |
|
|
blessed with three daughters, and they cherished time spent with |
|
|
their children and grandchildren at the family retreat on the |
|
|
Sabine River; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Prewitt served as a congressional intern in |
|
|
Washington, D.C., which sparked his abiding interest in policy and |
|
|
politics; he returned to Texas and established Landmark Nurseries, |
|
|
Incorporated, and under his guidance as chief executive officer, |
|
|
the company evolved into one of the largest wholesale nursery |
|
|
distributors in the southern United States; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Prewitt gave |
|
|
extensively of his time and funds to charitable, civic, and |
|
|
professional organizations, and he was an ardent supporter of |
|
|
several Texas livestock shows and rodeos; his philanthropy extended |
|
|
to Texas universities, and his generosity enriched the lives of |
|
|
thousands of children in FFA and 4-H programs; he received numerous |
|
|
honors for his contributions, including the Texas Agricultural |
|
|
Lifetime Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award; a man of many |
|
|
talents, he was admired for his skill in business, bass fishing, and |
|
|
storytelling; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In both his professional career and his volunteer |
|
|
efforts, Mr. Prewitt had an indelible impact on the entire Texas |
|
|
green industry; he led the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association |
|
|
Political Action Committee as chair and was an active member of the |
|
|
board for many years; due to his lifetime commitment to the green |
|
|
industry, he was awarded the TNLA Arp Award, the Texas industry's |
|
|
highest individual recognition; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Jim Prewitt embraced life to the fullest, and he |
|
|
will forever remain a vibrant presence for those who knew and loved |
|
|
him; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James B. Prewitt and |
|
|
extend sincere condolences to his 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 Jim |
|
|
Prewitt. |