| |
| |
|
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
|
|
WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
|
|
passing of Lyman Bartlett Hotchkiss of Midland on October 27, 2024, |
|
|
at the age of 80; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The son of Dr. Dewitt H. Hotchkiss and Esther |
|
|
Hotchkiss, Bart Hotchkiss was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, on |
|
|
November 24, 1943, and he grew up in Houston with the companionship |
|
|
of his brother, Pete; he attended the Kinkaid School, and after |
|
|
graduating from Culver Military Academy in Indiana, he continued |
|
|
his education at Southwestern University, where he met his future |
|
|
wife, the former Sharla Earl; the couple shared six decades of |
|
|
marriage and welcomed into their family two children, Bret and |
|
|
Erin, and three grandchildren, Brendan, Christopher, and |
|
|
Elizabeth; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Hotchkiss worked in sales in Houston and Lubbock |
|
|
following his graduation from college, and in 1971, he and his |
|
|
family moved to Midland; in the ensuing years, he sold computers and |
|
|
ran a garage door company; he also earned his real estate license |
|
|
and began buying and selling properties, managing rentals, and |
|
|
flipping houses alongside his wife; in 1983, he opened Murray's |
|
|
Deli in downtown Midland, followed by several other locations and a |
|
|
bakery, and he went on to establish a retail business called The |
|
|
Fire Place before retiring; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Engaged in his community, Mr. Hotchkiss gave |
|
|
generously of his time by volunteering with his church, local |
|
|
schools and PTAs, and a number of other organizations, including |
|
|
Hospice of Midland, Keep Midland Beautiful, Master Gardeners, the |
|
|
Museum of the Southwest, and United Way; in addition, he served on |
|
|
the Midland City Council and as mayor pro tempore, and he further |
|
|
distinguished himself as chair of the Midland Planning and Zoning |
|
|
Commission, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, and a |
|
|
member of the Oil and Gas Advisory Committee; in his leisure hours, |
|
|
he enjoyed traveling and spending time with his loved ones, and he |
|
|
was known for his exceptional cooking skills; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Admired for his devotion to his family, his |
|
|
generosity of spirit, and his joyous zest for life, Bart Hotchkiss |
|
|
enriched the lives of all who knew him, and they will forever hold |
|
|
him close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
|
hereby pay tribute to the memory of Lyman Bartlett Hotchkiss and |
|
|
extend sincere condolences to his 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 House of |
|
|
Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
|
|
Bart Hotchkiss. |