H.R. No. 324
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The city of Dallas has lost one of its most valued
1-2 citizens and esteemed civic leaders with the passing of
1-3 R. L. Thornton, Jr., on September 24, 1992, at the age of 81; and
1-4 WHEREAS, A native Texan, he was born in Dallas on January 12,
1-5 1911, and was the only son of the prominent banker, civic leader,
1-6 and former mayor of Dallas, R. L. Thornton, Sr.; and
1-7 WHEREAS, Mr. Thornton attended Dartmouth College, Southern
1-8 Methodist University, and Harvard Business School as a young man
1-9 and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, during which
1-10 time he saw action on Iwo Jima and earned a bronze star and a
1-11 commendation; and
1-12 WHEREAS, This patriotic gentleman went on to hold major posts
1-13 in the Air Force Reserve until his retirement from the reserves as
1-14 a lieutenant colonel; in 1972, he was appointed an Honorary
1-15 Brigadier General of the Texas National Guard; and
1-16 WHEREAS, Following in the footsteps of his father,
1-17 Mr. Thornton developed an interest in banking from an early age and
1-18 worked summers at Mercantile Bank from the time he was nine years
1-19 old until he was graduated from college; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Returning to Mercantile Bank after his military
1-21 service, he was elected a vice-president of the bank and remained
1-22 with the institution throughout his professional career, having
1-23 been named senior vice-president of the bank in 1957, executive
1-24 vice-president in 1961, a director in 1964, president in 1966, and
2-1 chairman of the bank in 1969; and
2-2 WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Thornton
2-3 always gave back much more to his community than he asked of it; a
2-4 dedicated civic leader who drew much satisfaction from such
2-5 endeavors, he played a leading role for dozens of civic
2-6 organizations in his community, serving as a director of the State
2-7 Fair of Texas, the American Cancer Society, the Dallas Historical
2-8 Society, the Greater Dallas Planning Council, the Scottish Rite
2-9 Foundation, and the YMCA; and
2-10 WHEREAS, This admirable gentleman was a past chairman of the
2-11 United Negro College Fund; a former campaign chairman for the
2-12 Community Chest, the forerunner of United Way; a member of the
2-13 board of regents of Texas Woman's University in Denton; a trustee
2-14 of the Texas Research Foundation and the Southwestern Medical
2-15 Foundation; and a member of the board of development of Dallas
2-16 Baptist College; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Mr. Thornton also shared his considerable leadership
2-18 skills and guidance as chairman of the Dallas Long Range Water
2-19 Supply Commission, as a trustee of the Trinity River Improvement
2-20 Association, and as a member of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
2-21 Commission and the Dallas Crime Commission; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Despite his many significant contributions to the
2-23 city of Dallas, he was perhaps best known for his impressive
2-24 achievement in establishing the Dallas County Community College
2-25 District and in overseeing its growth and development through its
2-26 early years as the founding chairman of the district's board of
2-27 trustees and as an active member of the board for many years; the
3-1 district subsequently named its central administrative facilities
3-2 after Mr. Thornton; and
3-3 WHEREAS, Mr. Thornton also had the foresight to create the
3-4 Dallas County Community College District Foundation to enable the
3-5 district to have the resources needed to face the educational
3-6 challenges of the next century; the foundation has since
3-7 established the R. L. T. Memorial Fund, which has already received
3-8 more than $11,500 in contributions that will be used to provide
3-9 worthy students with scholarships; and
3-10 WHEREAS, Honored on numerous occasions for his extraordinary
3-11 service, Mr. Thornton was a recipient of the Linz Award, a
3-12 prestigious honor presented annually to the person whose civic
3-13 achievements have been deemed the most valuable to the city of
3-14 Dallas; and
3-15 WHEREAS, Other accolades achieved during his lifetime include
3-16 his having been selected as a distinguished alumnus of Southern
3-17 Methodist University, his having been named the recipient of a
3-18 Silver Beaver Award by the Circle 10 Council of the Boy Scouts of
3-19 America, and his having been chosen as headliner of the year by the
3-20 Press Club of Dallas; and
3-21 WHEREAS, In all aspects of his life, R. L. Thornton, Jr.,
3-22 demonstrated unfailing wisdom, graciousness, and dedication to that
3-23 which he knew to be right; though his presence will be deeply
3-24 missed by all who were privileged to know him, the spirit of this
3-25 remarkable individual will live on in the lasting legacy of
3-26 accomplishments he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it
3-27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
4-1 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of R. L. Thornton, Jr.,
4-2 and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
4-3 sons, Dr. Thomas Lafayette Thornton of Allen and Robert L.
4-4 Thornton III of Dallas; to his five grandchildren; to his sisters,
4-5 Katherine Holt and Rosemary Brinegar, both of Dallas; and to the
4-6 many other friends and relatives of this remarkable gentleman; and,
4-7 be it further
4-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-9 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
4-10 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
4-11 R. L. Thornton, Jr.
4-12 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
4-13 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
4-14 R. L. Thornton, Jr.
4-15 Goolsby
4-16 H.R. No. 324
4-17 _______________________________
4-18 Speaker of the House
4-19 I certify that H.R. No. 324 was unanimously adopted by a
4-20 rising vote of the House on March 11, 1993.
4-21 _______________________________
4-22 Chief Clerk of the House