R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Our esteemed colleague, Speaker James E. "Pete"
1-2 Laney, will celebrate his birthday on March 20, 1997, and it gives
1-3 the members of this chamber great pleasure to join the Laney family
1-4 in marking this special day; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A native Texan, Speaker Laney was born in Plainview
1-6 on March 20, 1943, and with the exception of his sojourn to exotic
1-7 Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University, he has lived in Hale
1-8 County throughout his life; a third-generation cotton farmer,
1-9 Speaker Laney exemplifies the proud Texas tradition of the citizen
1-10 legislator, returning--often eagerly, or even gleefully--to his
1-11 farm near Hale Center at the close of each legislative session,
1-12 apparently preferring the backbreaking but relatively quiet work of
1-13 the cotton field to the organized chaos of the house chamber; and
1-14 WHEREAS, Since his first election to the Texas House of
1-15 Representatives in 1972, Speaker Laney has offered thoughtful
1-16 leadership as a member of the House Agriculture and Livestock
1-17 Committee, the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, the Transportation
1-18 Committee, and many others, and as chairman of the House
1-19 Administration Committee from 1975 to 1982, he initiated a number
1-20 of cost-saving measures that have greatly improved the efficiency
1-21 of state operations; and
1-22 WHEREAS, In his role as speaker of the house, this
1-23 distinguished gentleman is known for his fairness and his open,
1-24 approachable manner, giving freely of his time to help freshman
2-1 legislators become accustomed to their new roles; sadly, Speaker
2-2 Laney's good-natured personality has made it nearly impossible for
2-3 senior legislators to haze their freshman counterparts, and very
2-4 few of the newcomers have fallen for the ruse that they are
2-5 required to pledge allegiance to the Red Raiders before entering
2-6 the speaker's office; and
2-7 WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Speaker Laney has benefited
2-8 from the love and support of his wife, Nelda McQuien Laney, and his
2-9 children, KaLyn Laney, Jamey Laney Phillips, and J Pete Laney;
2-10 Mrs. Laney is highly respected by the members of this chamber for
2-11 her historical preservation efforts, and her unfailing grace,
2-12 courtesy, and charm have made her a welcome presence in the often
2-13 unruly world of Texas politics; and
2-14 WHEREAS, Pete Laney's reputation as a man of integrity,
2-15 fairness, and commitment has made him an inspiration to all of his
2-16 fellow legislators, and it is with sincere respect that we join in
2-17 offering this heartfelt and good-natured tribute; now, therefore,
2-18 be it
2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-20 Legislature hereby honor Speaker James E. "Pete" Laney on the
2-21 auspicious occasion of his birthday and extend to him warmest best
2-22 wishes for many more years of happiness and success; and, be it
2-23 further
2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-25 prepared for Speaker Laney as an expression of highest regard by
2-26 his colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives.
Brimer
Alexander Gutierrez Oliveira
Allen Haggerty Olivo
Alvarado Hamric Palmer
Averitt Hartnett Patterson
Bailey Hawley Pickett
Berlanga Heflin Pitts
Bonnen Hernandez Place
Bosse Hightower Price
Brimer Hilbert Puente
Burnam Hilderbran Rabuck
Carter Hill Ramsay
Chavez Hinojosa Rangel
Chisum Hirschi Raymond
Christian Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Clark Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Coleman Holzheauser Rhodes
Cook Horn Rodriguez
Corte Howard Roman
Counts Hunter Sadler
Crabb Hupp Seaman
Craddick Isett Serna
Cuellar Jackson Shields
Culberson Janek Siebert
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Smith
Davila Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davis Junell Solis
Delisi Kamel Solomons
Denny Keel Staples
Driver Keffer Stiles
Dukes King Swinford
Dunnam Krusee Talton
Dutton Kubiak Telford
Edwards Kuempel Thompson
Ehrhardt Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Eiland Lewis of Orange Torres
Elkins Longoria Turner of Coleman
Farrar Luna Turner of Harris
Finnell McCall Uher
Flores McClendon Van de Putte
Gallego McReynolds Walker
Galloway Madden West
Garcia Marchant Williams
Giddings Maxey Williamson
Glaze Merritt Wilson
Goodman Moffat Wise
Goolsby Moreno Wohlgemuth
Gray Mowery Wolens
Greenberg Naishtat Woolley
Grusendorf Nixon Yarbrough
Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 436 was adopted by the House on March
20, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House