By Uher                                              H.C.R. No. 126
         76R8555 WMS-F                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The 76th Legislature of the State of Texas joins the
 1-2     citizens of the City of Austin, Bowie County, and the entire State
 1-3     of Texas in mourning the loss of one of the most respected members
 1-4     of the Texas Legislature, Ed Howard, who died on July 2, 1998; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 13, 1937,
 1-6     the son of Ruth and V. E. Howard, Ed Howard was known throughout
 1-7     his life as a man of the most unimpeachable honor; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Ed Howard's interest in politics was sparked when he
 1-9     was a student at Greenville High School, where he was a student
1-10     government leader and a star basketball player; he was also
1-11     involved in student government and basketball while attending
1-12     Abilene Christian University; and
1-13           WHEREAS, After graduating with a business degree in 1959, he
1-14     studied municipal administration at Texas Southern University; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Shortly after his marriage to Jo Ann Jay in 1960,
1-16     the young couple moved to Texarkana to join the family business,
1-17     Howard Discount Stores; however, the call of public service was
1-18     strong, and in 1968 Ed Howard was elected to the House of
1-19     Representatives for the 61st Legislature, representing the citizens
1-20     of Bowie County; and
1-21           WHEREAS, During his freshman term, Representative Howard
1-22     served on the Committee on Elections, the Committee on Governmental
1-23     Affairs and Efficiency, the Committee on Oil, Gas, and Mining, and
1-24     the Committee on Youth, and he quickly impressed his colleagues
 2-1     with his hard work, his incisive mind, and his attention to detail;
 2-2     and
 2-3           WHEREAS, During his tenure in the Texas House in the 62nd and
 2-4     63rd legislatures, Ed Howard gained positions of increasing
 2-5     responsibility and importance, serving on the Revenue and Taxation
 2-6     Committee during the 63rd Legislature; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure in the Texas House, Ed passed
 2-8     numerous bills concerning developmental planning processes,
 2-9     highways, and schools, and he was instrumental in establishing the
2-10     Northeast Texas Restitution Center in Bowie County; and
2-11           WHEREAS, When Ed Howard was elected to the Texas Senate to
2-12     represent the 15-county District One for the 66th Legislature, he
2-13     was the district's first new senator in more than 40 years,
2-14     replacing his political mentor and the retiring Dean of the Senate,
2-15     A. M. Aikin, Jr., of Paris; Senator Howard soon proved to the
2-16     citizens of the district that he was a worthy successor to Senator
2-17     Aikin; and
2-18           WHEREAS, A team player and a loyal ally of Lieutenant
2-19     Governor Bill Hobby, Ed Howard was a tireless worker during Senate
2-20     deliberations, and his work as chairman of the Sunset Advisory
2-21     Commission, chairman of the Senate Nominations committee, and vice
2-22     chairman of the Finance Committee was invaluable; appointed to the
2-23     Legislative Budget Board in 1985, he also served twice as delegate
2-24     to the Southern Regional Education Board; and
2-25           WHEREAS, Twice recognized by Texas Monthly as an outstanding
2-26     senator, Ed Howard was cited by Texas Business magazine as one of
2-27     the "Ten Best Legislators" during the 67th Legislature and also the
 3-1     hardest-working member of the Senate; and
 3-2           WHEREAS, After announcing his impending resignation from the
 3-3     Texas Senate in April, 1985, he pointed with justifiable pride to
 3-4     his work on behalf of health insurance for retired teachers, the
 3-5     creation of the World Trade Council, and the establishment of
 3-6     restitution centers for nonviolent criminals; and
 3-7           WHEREAS, Chosen president pro tempore ad interim of the
 3-8     Senate on September 4, 1986, for the 2nd Called Session of the 69th
 3-9     Legislature, Ed Howard was praised as the "conscience of the
3-10     Senate"; and
3-11           WHEREAS, After leaving the Senate he associated with Clark,
3-12     Thomas, Winters and Newton and later formed Ed Howard and
3-13     Associates, where he continued to be known for his integrity and
3-14     probity; and
3-15           WHEREAS, A faithful member of the Church of Christ, Ed Howard
3-16     lived his Christian beliefs in thought, word, and action; and
3-17           WHEREAS, He had a strong and enduring commitment and an
3-18     unshakeable bond with his beloved wife, Jo Ann, and together they
3-19     created a warm and nurturing environment for their four children;
3-20     it was in his role as husband and father that the star of this
3-21     widely respected and admired man shone most brightly, and it is in
3-22     that role that he will be most deeply missed; now, therefore, be it
3-23           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-24     hereby extend sincere condolences to the members of the family of
3-25     Ed Howard: his wife, Jo Ann; his children, Eric, Jay, Lee, and
3-26     Katie; his grandchildren, Haley and Laney; and his parents,
3-27     V. E. and Ruth Howard; and, be it further
 4-1           RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the
 4-2     members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the
 4-3     Texas Legislature, and that when the legislature adjourns this day,
 4-4     it do so in memory of Ed Howard.