HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of the Honorable Erwin Barton on
1-2 February 1, 1997, at the age of 65, has brought a great loss to the
1-3 many friends and relatives of this distinguished Pasadena resident
1-4 and former member of the Texas House of Representatives; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A native Texan, Representative Barton contributed to
1-6 his state and community in myriad ways, and Texas is truly a better
1-7 place because of his active involvement; and
1-8 WHEREAS, He will long be remembered for his outstanding
1-9 service to his fellow citizens as an esteemed member of the Texas
1-10 House of Representatives from 1979 to 1993, in which capacity he
1-11 effectively addressed a host of important concerns both as chairman
1-12 of the Human Services Committee and as a member of the Higher
1-13 Education and the Liquor Regulation committees; and
1-14 WHEREAS, One of Representative Barton's greatest legislative
1-15 accomplishments was the passage of a bill to consolidate 11
1-16 separate human service agencies into the current Texas Department
1-17 of Health; as a result of this legislation, the agency has been
1-18 able to provide more effective and efficient service to those in
1-19 need; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable tenure, he demonstrated an
1-21 abiding commitment to issues affecting the family; he sponsored
1-22 legislation to help displaced workers and their families regain
1-23 their independence by providing education, job training, and
1-24 employment, and he helped to ensure the health and safety of
2-1 countless Texans by requiring child care facilities and nursing
2-2 homes to conduct criminal background checks on prospective
2-3 employees; and
2-4 WHEREAS, An outspoken advocate for education issues as well,
2-5 Representative Barton developed an initiative to identify and
2-6 provide appropriate education programs for students with learning
2-7 disabilities or hearing or vision impairment, and his outstanding
2-8 efforts in this regard have helped to expand opportunities for many
2-9 Texans; and
2-10 WHEREAS, Representative Barton's involvement also extended to
2-11 law enforcement issues, for he worked on legislation to ensure a
2-12 high standard in the qualifications of police officers and
2-13 firefighters and was instrumental in securing fair wages and
2-14 adequate pension for those public servants; he actively supported a
2-15 host of environmental issues as well, creating a registry to
2-16 determine the effect of air and water pollution on cancer rates and
2-17 carrying the first bill to prohibit cigarette smoking in all public
2-18 buildings; and
2-19 WHEREAS, This respected statesman continued to give
2-20 generously of his time and talents in behalf of all Americans as an
2-21 esteemed member of the National Conference of State Legislators'
2-22 State and Federal Assembly, and during his years in public office,
2-23 he received numerous citations for his stalwart service to his
2-24 fellow citizens; and
2-25 WHEREAS, Representative Barton upheld the highest ideals of
2-26 our citizen legislature; throughout his noteworthy tenure, he
2-27 worked for Simpson Paper Company in Pasadena to support his family,
3-1 and used his leave time to serve in the Texas Legislature, having
3-2 skillfully managed his work schedule so that he never missed a vote
3-3 at the State Capitol; and
3-4 WHEREAS, He continued to contribute to his state and
3-5 community outside of public office as an active member of several
3-6 organizations, including the American Legion Post No. 521, the
3-7 Pasadena Palmer Drug Abuse Center, the local chapter of the
3-8 American Red Cross, the Texas Cancer Council, and St. Pius V
3-9 Catholic Church; and
3-10 WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, he was sustained by his
3-11 abiding commitment to his family, and his devotion to his wife,
3-12 children, and grandchildren was a source of inspiration to all who
3-13 knew him; and
3-14 WHEREAS, A man of immense vision, Erwin Barton dedicated much
3-15 of his life to the betterment of his community and state, and
3-16 though he will be missed by all who knew him, his spirit will
3-17 surely live on in the many accomplishments he leaves behind; now,
3-18 therefore, be it
3-19 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-20 hereby honor the memory of former State Representative Erwin Barton
3-21 and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
3-22 beloved wife of 44 years, Helen Schoener Barton; to his daughters
3-23 and sons-in-law, Denise and Greg Metzgar, Donna and Kenneth
3-24 Tarrance, and Carol and Mark Jetter; to his five grandchildren; and
3-25 to the many other friends and relatives of this eminent Texan;
3-26 and, be it further
3-27 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-1 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
4-2 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so
4-3 in memory of the Honorable Erwin Barton.
Bosse
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 93 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 20, 1997.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 93 was adopted by the Senate on
April 29, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _______________________
Date
_______________________
Governor