SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 630
	In Memory
	of
	Bill Haley
	WHEREAS, The passing of former Texas State
	Representative and Senator James William Haley of Austin on
	July 3, 2022, at the age of 78, brought a great loss to his
	family and many friends; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Center on September 22, 1943, Bill Haley
	was the son of Eugene Wayne "Pete" Haley Sr. and Mary Elizabeth
	Miller Haley, and he grew up with the company of his brothers,
	Eugene and Thomas; he graduated from Texas Christian University
	and went on to earn his teaching certificate at Stephen F. Austin
	State University and a master's degree at Texas State University;
	during a career in public education that spanned more than a
	dozen years in Houston and then Center, he taught government,
	American history, and economics courses, making the subjects fun
	and interesting while encouraging students to excel; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Haley won a special election for a seat in the
	Texas House of Representatives in 1978, and he took a leading
	role in enacting sweeping education reforms; widely acknowledged
	as the most vigorous in the nation at the time, the changes
	limited class size, set standards for student performance and
	teacher competency, and raised educator pay rates; he served as
	chair of the House Public Education Committee, as well as
	subcommittees on Public Education Appropriative Matters and
	Budget and Oversight; in addition, he was a member of several
	other committees, among them State Affairs and Financial
	Institutions; and
	WHEREAS, Following his election to the Texas Senate in
	1988, he remained an ardent champion of education, earning the
	nickname "East Texas Maverick" from writer Molly Ivins for both
	his East Texas drawl and his tenacity; Senator Haley co-chaired
	the Interim Committee on Proprietary Schools, chaired the
	Interim Committee on Education, and served as vice chair of the
	Senate Education Committee and chair of the Special Committee on
	Administration; throughout his tenure in public office, he was
	known for both his keen insight and his wit; in one of his
	better-known jests, he offered a tongue-in-cheek bill amendment
	to route an intercity bullet train through his hometown, with its
	population of 6,000, a tactic that earned a whimsical "Best
	Boondoggle" award from Texas Monthly; the recipient of numerous
	more serious accolades, he was accorded the Friend of Education
	Award by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association and Champion of
	Education Award by the Texas Elementary Principals and
	Supervisors Association, among many others; and
	WHEREAS, Senator Haley returned to private life in 1995; a
	valued member of University Christian Church, he served in
	various leadership roles, including elder and chair of the board,
	and he enjoyed teaching the Seekers church school class for 23
	years; dedicated to his alma mater, he was active on the board of
	the Austin Chapter of the TCU Alumni Association, and he was a
	member of the Austin Regional Council, the National Alumni Board,
	and the executive board of the TCU College of Fine Arts Board of
	Visitors; and
	WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Senator Haley enjoyed the
	love and support of his wife, Mary, and the couple formed a strong
	team, having known each other since childhood; he took great
	pride in his sons, Jeffrey and Robert, and he had the pleasure of
	seeing his family grow to include five grandchildren; and
	WHEREAS, Through his unyielding commitment to education,
	Bill Haley made significant contributions to his fellow Texans,
	and his warmth, kindness, and sense of humor enriched the lives
	of all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
	Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
	James William Haley and extend sincere condolences to the members
	of his family: to his wife, Mary Russell Scriven Haley; to his
	sons, Jeffrey Russell Haley and his wife Michele, and Robert
	Colin Haley and his wife, Lisa Marie; to his grandchildren,
	William Russell Haley, Jonathan Michael Haley, Andrew
	Christopher Haley, Ava Brooke Haley, and Alexis Giuliana Haley;
	to his brother, Thomas Laurence Haley, and his wife, Michelle;
	and to his other relatives and many friends; 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 former State Senator Bill Haley.
	Zaffirini
	Alvarado Hancock Miles
	Bettencourt Hinojosa Nichols
	Birdwell Huffman Parker
	Blanco Hughes Paxton
	Campbell Johnson Perry
	Creighton King Schwertner
	Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
	Flores LaMantia Springer
	Gutierrez Menéndez West
	Hall Middleton Whitmire
	Patrick, President of the Senate
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on May 23, 2023, by a
		rising vote.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate