H.R. No. 760
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The many friends and family of Anita Rodeheaver, and
    1-2  all the people of Harris County, have suffered a great loss with
    1-3  the passing of this outstanding public servant on May 18, 1993, at
    1-4  the age of 69; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, While serving as Harris County clerk for the past 15
    1-6  years and as an esteemed member of the advisory panel of the
    1-7  Federal Election Commission Clearing House, Mrs. Rodeheaver earned
    1-8  the status of a nationally recognized elections expert; it was her
    1-9  responsibility to manage elections for the county, and because
   1-10  Harris County encompasses nearly three million residents, the task
   1-11  required all of Mrs. Rodeheaver's considerable managerial and
   1-12  organizational skills; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Before her election to the office of county clerk in
   1-14  1978, this remarkable woman served for 17 years as executive
   1-15  assistant to her predecessor, R. E.  "Bob" Turrentine; the county
   1-16  clerk also serves as clerk of the commissioners court and the
   1-17  county's probate and civil courts, and Mrs. Rodeheaver executed
   1-18  these duties with honor and integrity; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, In order to fulfill the demands of these many roles,
   1-20  Mrs. Rodeheaver coordinated the efforts of 252 full-time employees
   1-21  to maintain marriage records, property deeds, and other official
   1-22  documents; this staff was augmented by 300 additional workers
   1-23  during elections, but despite the tremendous size of her staff,
   1-24  Mrs. Rodeheaver was known to treat each employee with the same
    2-1  courtesy, respect, and compassion she would show a family member;
    2-2  and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Until a tape recording system was installed in the
    2-4  commissioners court in the mid-1980s, her early duties as county
    2-5  clerk included taking the official minutes at the court's weekly
    2-6  meetings; the tape recording system was one of many innovations
    2-7  enacted by this respected public servant, for during her tenure as
    2-8  county clerk, the office became one of the most fully automated in
    2-9  the nation; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, Throughout her distinguished career, Mrs. Rodeheaver
   2-11  enjoyed the love and support of her husband, James; their marriage
   2-12  was blessed with two daughters and recently came to include four
   2-13  grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all of whom brought great
   2-14  pride and joy into Mrs. Rodeheaver's life; and
   2-15        WHEREAS, In serving her family, her friends, and her
   2-16  community, this extraordinary woman gave selflessly to those around
   2-17  her and left them with a legacy of love and compassion by which to
   2-18  remember her; though her presence is gone from us now, her unique
   2-19  spirit will surely live on in the hearts of the many people whose
   2-20  lives she has touched; now, therefore, be it
   2-21        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-22  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Anita Rodeheaver and
   2-23  extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family:  to her
   2-24  husband, James; to her daughters, Nancy Luksa and Dianne Dupont; to
   2-25  her four grandchildren; to her great-grandchild; and to all the
   2-26  friends and relatives of this beloved woman; and, be it further
   2-27        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-1  prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
    3-2  House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
    3-3  Anita Rodeheaver.