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.