By:  Luna                                        S.R. No. 774
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2                               In Memory
    1-3                                  of
    1-4                            Robert Thompson
    1-5        WHEREAS, The family and many friends of Robert Thompson join
    1-6  with the citizens of San Antonio in mourning the death of this
    1-7  outstanding labor union official on April 17, 1993; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, A longtime president of the Amalgamated Transit
    1-9  Union, Mr. Thompson was the driving force behind major improvements
   1-10  for the employees of VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, This noted labor leader was a member of Amalgamated
   1-12  Transit Union for almost 30 years; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson first took office as president in
   1-14  January, 1974; he was reelected repeatedly until he retired from
   1-15  his post June 21, 1989; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Esteemed by his colleagues, Mr. Thompson was
   1-17  credited with pulling the union together in difficult times;
   1-18  Mr. Thompson was proud of having led five employee strikes
   1-19  against San Antonio's transit agency; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, During Mr. Thompson's tenure, wages and benefits for
   1-21  mechanics and bus drivers increased by about 200 percent; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Even though he campaigned for employees' rights, he
   1-23  was respected by management who offered him a job as chief of the
    2-1  VIATrans service for the mobility impaired; he accepted that
    2-2  position in 1989; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, A man devoted to the union's cause, Mr. Thompson's
    2-4  biggest accomplishment was winning a case in which the union sought
    2-5  compensation for overtime pay at the rate of time-and-a-half; his
    2-6  union members will miss his presence; now, therefore, be it
    2-7        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
    2-8  73rd Legislature, hereby extend sympathy to the members of
    2-9  his family:  his wife, Linda Chavez-Thompson; his daughter,
   2-10  Cathy Thompson; and his brother, Walter Thompson; and, be it
   2-11  further
   2-12        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
   2-13  members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the
   2-14  Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so
   2-15  in memory of Robert Thompson.
   2-16                                 _____________________________________
   2-17                                        President of the Senate
   2-18                                      I hereby certify that the
   2-19                                 above Resolution was adopted by
   2-20                                 the Senate on April 28, 1993,
   2-21                                 by a rising vote.
   2-22                                 _____________________________________
   2-23                                        Secretary of the Senate
   2-24                                 _____________________________________
   2-25                                         Member, Texas Senate