H.R. No. 177
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  James E. (Jim) Nugent, whose distinguished public service over the
    1-3  course of four decades has greatly enhanced the lives of many
    1-4  Texans; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, An attorney and engineer by profession, Mr. Nugent's
    1-6  life is blessed by his wife, Billie Nugent, his children, Nan and
    1-7  Skip, and his five grandchildren; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Engaged in the private practice of law for many
    1-9  years in the picturesque community of Kerrville, Mr. Nugent began
   1-10  his public service career by serving as the Kerr County Attorney
   1-11  for six years in the 1950s; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, In 1961, he was elected to the Texas House of
   1-13  Representatives,  in which capacity he would work diligently over
   1-14  the course of 18 years to secure the passage of a new penal code,
   1-15  Texas' first comprehensive ethics bill, and important legislation
   1-16  on highway funding, public school finance, truth-in-taxation,
   1-17  property tax reform, and numerous other issues; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, During his tenure in the house, Mr. Nugent
   1-19  represented the citizens of 17 Hill Country counties and counted
   1-20  among his constituents two Texas governors, one Texas lieutenant
   1-21  governor, three speakers of the Texas House of Representatives, one
   1-22  speaker of the United States House of Representatives, two vice
   1-23  presidents of the United States, and one United States president;
   1-24  and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Mr. Nugent's stentorian style, knowledge of the
    2-2  rules, and menacing demeanor in debate were second to none and
    2-3  earned him nicknames not appropriate for official documents; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, In 1979 Mr. Nugent was appointed by Governor Dolph
    2-5  Briscoe to serve on the Texas Railroad Commission; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, Under his leadership, the commission demonstrated
    2-7  unflagging dedication to conservation of the state's oil and
    2-8  natural gas resources through sound engineering and recovery
    2-9  principles, instituted a new natural gas proration system with
   2-10  significant favorable impacts on the economy of Texas, modernized
   2-11  information technologies, and granted the public dramatically
   2-12  improved access to information; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, Mr. Nugent also was among the first to promote
   2-14  incentive measures for oil and gas production that have made Texas
   2-15  a national leader; and
   2-16        WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Jim Nugent exhibited an
   2-17  unwavering dedication to the public interest; now, therefore, be it
   2-18        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-19  Legislature hereby honor Jim Nugent for his exceptional service to
   2-20  the people of Texas and extend to him and to his charming wife,
   2-21  Billie, sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness;
   2-22  and, be it further
   2-23        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-24  prepared for Mr. Nugent as an expression of high regard by the
   2-25  Texas House of Representatives.