By Jones of Lubbock H.R. No. 1125
75R16325 BNL-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Nelda Laney has continually gone above and beyond
1-2 the call of duty in her position as the wife of House Speaker James
1-3 E. "Pete" Laney, and her warmth, kindness, and dedication have
1-4 earned her the lasting respect and gratitude of all the members of
1-5 this chamber; and
1-6 WHEREAS, The Laneys have been married for 33 years, and for
1-7 23 of those years, Speaker Laney has served as a state
1-8 representative; throughout that time, Mrs. Laney has balanced her
1-9 many duties as the spouse of a public official with the needs of
1-10 the couple's three children, KaLyn Laney, Jamey Laney Phillips, and
1-11 J Pete Laney, and the grace with which she has managed these roles
1-12 has been an inspiration to all who know her; and
1-13 WHEREAS, An honors graduate of Texas Tech University,
1-14 Mrs. Laney originally pursued a teaching career, and her enthusiasm
1-15 for learning has infused many of the projects that she has
1-16 undertaken in the past several years; with Texas First Lady Laura
1-17 Bush, she helped to organize the premier Texas Book Festival,
1-18 promoting Texas literature while raising much-needed funds for our
1-19 state's public libraries, and she was a guiding force in the
1-20 reestablishment of an agricultural museum in the Capitol; and
1-21 WHEREAS, Mrs. Laney's efforts in the restoration of the
1-22 Capitol building extended far beyond that one project, however, as
1-23 she frequently donned a hardhat to inspect the ongoing construction
1-24 and speak with the many different tradesmen who were completing the
2-1 work; when crews faced a difficult deadline to finish the house
2-2 chamber for the 74th session, Mrs. Laney responded in true Texas
2-3 fashion, going to work to help lay the carpet that we walk on
2-4 today; in addition, through her leadership of the Historical Art
2-5 Enrichment Program to Enhance the Capitol and the Capitol Fund
2-6 Drive, she has helped to raise millions of dollars to furnish the
2-7 stately building with appropriate antiques and works of art; and
2-8 WHEREAS, She further bolstered this noble cause by
2-9 establishing an innovative source of revenue for the State
2-10 Preservation Board; Mrs. Laney drew on her artistic talents to
2-11 personally design a beautiful gold-plated Christmas ornament
2-12 depicting the Texas Capitol, and proceeds from the sale of this
2-13 unique keepsake will benefit the Capitol preservation program for
2-14 years to come; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Only one concern seems to exceed Mrs. Laney's
2-16 devotion to the Capitol building and its many historic artifacts,
2-17 and that is her concern for the people within the building; stories
2-18 of this gracious woman's hospitality and generosity abound, and one
2-19 would be hard pressed to find a denizen of or visitor to this
2-20 statehouse who has not been touched by Mrs. Laney's thoughtfulness;
2-21 from preparing sandwiches and snacks for sergeants, staffers, and
2-22 committee members to opening her personal quarters for use by
2-23 legislators feeling under the weather, Mrs. Laney has established
2-24 herself as a second mother to nearly everyone in the House of
2-25 Representatives; and
2-26 WHEREAS, While most women would shy away from the demands of
2-27 more than 150 foster children, Mrs. Laney seems to take the chaos
3-1 in stride, and her resourcefulness in a crisis is nothing short of
3-2 legendary; this session's swearing-in festivities for new house
3-3 members faced certain cancellation when icy roads prevented
3-4 caterers from reaching the Capitol, but Mrs. Laney, with the help
3-5 of several other legislators' spouses, took to the kitchen and
3-6 miraculously turned out breakfast for 150 people and lunch for 75,
3-7 and she has actually been known to straighten all the shutters in
3-8 the house chamber and is rumored to have been seen weeding the rose
3-9 garden on the Capitol grounds; and
3-10 WHEREAS, A proper accounting of all of Nelda Laney's
3-11 achievements, honors, thoughtful acts, and public service projects
3-12 would fill many volumes, and each member of this chamber
3-13 undoubtedly has a favorite memory of this truly remarkable woman;
3-14 Nelda Laney embodies the finest traditions of hospitality, service,
3-15 and compassion that Texans hold dear, and in doing so, she has set
3-16 an exemplary standard for others to follow; now, therefore, be it
3-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
3-18 Legislature hereby honor Nelda Laney for her outstanding work in
3-19 behalf of the people of Texas and confer on her the formal title of
3-20 First Lady of the House; and, be it further
3-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-22 prepared for Mrs. Laney as an expression of highest regard by the
3-23 Texas House of Representatives.