By: Goolsby H.R. No. 324 73R5449 PAN-F 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.