By Reyna H.R. No. 42 74R3805 SRD-E R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Representative Bill Blackwood on June 1-2 25, 1993, at the age of 56, has brought a great loss to the members 1-3 of this chamber and to the many other friends and relatives of this 1-4 esteemed gentleman; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A native Texan, he was born in Dallas on September 1-6 11, 1936, and was graduated from Texas A&M University in 1960 with 1-7 a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Following his graduation, Mr. Blackwood took as his 1-9 bride the former Mary Pendergrass of Horatio, Arkansas, and their 1-10 marriage was blessed by the birth of two children, Jennie Renee and 1-11 Scott; and 1-12 WHEREAS, This patriotic gentleman proudly served his country 1-13 as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force before returning to his 1-14 home in Mesquite, where he put his engineering skills to good use 1-15 as the founder of Production Control Services; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Having established himself as a capable businessman 1-17 in the community, Mr. Blackwood turned his attention to public 1-18 service and was elected to serve as a member of the Mesquite City 1-19 Council; it was during his six years as a city councilman that 1-20 Mr. Blackwood first developed a strong interest in law enforcement 1-21 as evidenced by his frequent accompaniment of officers on patrol 1-22 for the Mesquite Police Department; and 1-23 WHEREAS, In 1984, Mr. Blackwood was elected by the citizens 1-24 of District 105 to represent their interests in Austin as a member 2-1 of the House of Representatives and over the course of the next 2-2 decade, this highly principled gentleman served his constituents 2-3 with the utmost integrity and distinction; and 2-4 WHEREAS, In his role as a state representative, Mr. Blackwood 2-5 continued to be a staunch supporter of law enforcement, sponsoring 2-6 a wealth of legislation in this area that included a measure to 2-7 provide death benefits for the families of law enforcement officers 2-8 killed in the line of duty; and 2-9 WHEREAS, In 1987, his vision of an institute designed to 2-10 provide Texas' law enforcement officers with the most comprehensive 2-11 instruction in modern policing available anywhere in the world was 2-12 brought to fruition with the passage of legislation establishing 2-13 the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas; since that time, 2-14 his legislative colleagues have chosen to rename the institute in 2-15 his honor in recognition of the many significant contributions he 2-16 made to the field of law enforcement in Texas; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Throughout his exceptional tenure in the house, Bill 2-18 Blackwood earned the respect and admiration of all who were 2-19 privileged to know him; a man of great character, determination, 2-20 and courage, his memory will surely live on for many years to come 2-21 through the lasting legacy of achievement he leaves behind; now, 2-22 therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-24 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and service of Bill 2-25 Blackwood and extend deepest sympathy to his beloved wife of 33 2-26 years, Mary Blackwood, and to his children, Jennie Blackwood 2-27 Turnell and Scott Blackwood; and, be it further 3-1 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-2 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-3 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-4 an esteemed colleague, Bill Blackwood.