By Homer                                               H.C.R. No. 7
         76R6968 GMW-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Former State Representative Pete Patterson has
 1-2     distinguished himself as one of the Lone Star State's most
 1-3     industrious and generous citizens, and he is indeed worthy of
 1-4     special recognition; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Born December 20, 1934, in Brookston, Mr. Patterson
 1-6     was raised on a farm, which he continues to operate; he was
 1-7     employed for a number of years at Babcock-Wilcox, a steam
 1-8     generating plant in Paris, Texas, and he owned and operated his own
 1-9     tarpaulin manufacturing and repair business from 1953 to 1973; and
1-10           WHEREAS, In addition to being involved in building and land
1-11     development, he served on the West Lamar School Board from 1965 to
1-12     1973, the final three years as president, and in 1973 was elected
1-13     Lamar County commissioner, a position he held until 1977; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Mr. Patterson began his lengthy career as a state
1-15     representative in 1977, serving consecutively from the 65th through
1-16     the 75th legislative sessions; during his entire tenure he served
1-17     with distinction on the Agriculture and Livestock Committee,
1-18     holding the various posts of chairman, vice chairman, chairman of
1-19     Budget and Oversight, and chairman of the Subcommittee on
1-20     Agriculture Land; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Other committees of which Mr. Patterson was a member
1-22     include financial institutions, local and consent calendars, county
1-23     affairs, appropriations, natural resources, rules, and business and
1-24     industry; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, He was also active with the National Conference of
 2-2     State Legislatures, participating on the Committee on Agriculture
 2-3     and International Trade and the Committee on Rural Development; the
 2-4     Southern Legislative Conference Agriculture and Rural Development
 2-5     Committee, which he served as chairman and vice chairman; the
 2-6     Resources and Agriculture Task Force for the American Legislative
 2-7     Exchange Council; the Texas Agricultural Diversification Board; the
 2-8     Joint Committee on Higher Education in South Texas; the Speaker's
 2-9     Interim Committee Studying the Effect of Ad Valorem Tax on
2-10     Agriculture Land; and the Texas Conservative Coalition, of which he
2-11     was a charter member; and
2-12           WHEREAS, The myriad legislative accomplishments of this
2-13     honorable man include initiating the exemption of implements of
2-14     husbandry used in the production of farm and ranch products from ad
2-15     valorem taxation, reducing inheritance taxes, creating the farm and
2-16     ranch finance program, specifying that legal occupants of
2-17     agricultural land are not liable for trespassers injured on their
2-18     property, establishing the young farmer loan guarantee program,
2-19     providing the Employees Retirement System flexibility to self-fund
2-20     employee group health, life, and accident coverage, requiring state
2-21     agencies to list employment openings with the Texas Workforce
2-22     Commission, and allowing home equity lending; and
2-23           WHEREAS, During the 74th and 75th legislative sessions,
2-24     Mr. Patterson distributed a thought for the day to each of his
2-25     house colleagues, a practice that was so well received, he
2-26     published an all-inclusive booklet of thoughts at the end of each
2-27     session; and
 3-1           WHEREAS, Some of the many well-deserved awards and honors
 3-2     Mr. Patterson received include an Honorary American FFA Degree, Man
 3-3     of the Year in Agriculture from the County Agricultural Agents
 3-4     Association, Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Chamber of
 3-5     Commerce, Texas Extension Homemakers Association award for support
 3-6     of issues impacting families, 4-H Meritorious Service Award,
 3-7     Professional Agricultural Workers of Texas award for distinguished
 3-8     government service, Texas Farmers Union Legislative White Hat
 3-9     Award, Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas award for
3-10     outstanding leadership to the Texas livestock industry, and
3-11     Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Distinguished Service
3-12     Award; and
3-13           WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman also donated his time to Oak
3-14     Park United Methodist Church at Paris, where he served as chairman
3-15     of the board, the Roxton Masonic Lodge #543, and the Paris Kiwanis
3-16     Club; and
3-17           WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Patterson has derived great
3-18     joy and inspiration from his loving and close-knit family, and with
3-19     his wife Doris, whose homemade pecan pies were a treat often
3-20     enjoyed by members of the house, he takes great pride in their
3-21     children and grandchildren; and
3-22           WHEREAS, Pete Patterson has made his mark on the Lone Star
3-23     State as a committed public servant, farmer and rancher, and
3-24     devoted family man of ability and integrity, and it is truly
3-25     fitting at this time to recognize his many remarkable
3-26     accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
3-27           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 4-1     hereby commend the Honorable Pete Patterson for his many
 4-2     contributions to his fellow Texans and extend to him sincere best
 4-3     wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further
 4-4           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 4-5     prepared for Mr. Patterson as a token of high regard by the Texas
 4-6     House of Representatives and Senate.