By: Eckels H.R. No. 760 73R11422 BNL-D 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.