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.