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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former state representative Barry Bradford Telford |
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of De Kalb passed away on June 1, 2024, at the age of 77, bringing a |
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great loss to his family, friends, and community; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of John Quincy Telford and Bertha Van Hooser |
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Telford, Barry Telford was born in New Boston on October 24, 1946, |
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and his family included two brothers, John Wayne Telford, who died |
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in infancy, and Van Quincy Telford; he attended Texarkana Junior |
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College and went on to graduate from North Texas State University in |
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1970 with a bachelor's degree in education; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Telford was elected to the Texas House of |
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Representatives in 1986, and during his 18 years in office, he |
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worked tirelessly in behalf of his constituents in House |
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District 1; he served as chair of the House Calendars and Pensions |
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and Investments Committees, as well as the Select Committee on |
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Rural Development and the House Joint Committee on State Investment |
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Policy, and he was a member of numerous other legislative |
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committees over the years; in recognition of his work on the House |
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Corrections Committee, the Barry B. Telford Unit in Bowie County |
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was named in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, A dedicated champion for rural education and |
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economic development, Representative Telford played an |
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instrumental role in passing legislation to improve the teacher |
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retirement system, support higher education institutions in |
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Northeast Texas, and benefit public school students and teachers; |
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he further distinguished himself as a trusted mentor to numerous |
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other House members; in addition, he served on the Criminal Justice |
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Policy Council, the State Pension Review Board, the Sunset Advisory |
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Commission, the Texas State Artist Committee, and the National |
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Conference of State Legislatures Task Force on Social Security |
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Reform; and |
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WHEREAS, Representative Telford enjoyed a rewarding career |
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as the owner and operator of Telford Gas and Furniture; active in |
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his community, he was a member of the De Kalb Masonic Lodge No. 9, |
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the Maud Gun Club, and De Kalb First United Methodist Church; among |
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his many achievements, he received the Heart of the Community Noble |
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Award from the De Kalb TX Chamber of Commerce in 2012; and |
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WHEREAS, Blessed with a devoted family, Representative |
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Telford shared a rewarding marriage with his wife, Marsha, that |
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spanned nearly 58 years; he took great pride in their children, |
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Christina and John, and he had the pleasure of welcoming into his |
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family four grandchildren, Quincy, Zoe, Gracie, and Jackson; in his |
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leisure hours, he enjoyed skeet shooting, hunting, and reading; and |
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WHEREAS, Barry Telford set an inspiring example through his |
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enduring commitment to public service, and he leaves behind a |
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record of good works that will long be remembered; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of former state |
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representative Barry Bradford Telford and extend sincere |
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condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Marsha |
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Cunningham Telford; to his daughter, Anna Christina Telford, and |
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her husband, Jason Cording; to his son, John Farris Telford, and his |
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wife, Molly Darden Telford; to his grandchildren, Quincy Cole |
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Telford, Zoe Kate Telford, and Gracie Reese Telford; and to his |
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other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Barry |
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Telford. |