By Uher H.R. No. 623 76R6129 BE-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of former State Representative Ben 1-2 Dodson "Jumbo" Atwell on June 29, 1998, at the age of 82, has 1-3 greatly saddened the family and many friends of this esteemed Texan 1-4 and brought a great loss to the legal and legislative communities 1-5 of the state; and 1-6 WHEREAS, At 6'3", Mr. Atwell earned his sobriquet honestly, 1-7 but as friends and colleagues in the legislature can attest, 1-8 "Jumbo" Atwell was a formidable legislative presence as well; he 1-9 was regarded as the dean of the Dallas County delegation, and known 1-10 to be devilishly attentive when focusing on the issues at hand; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Mr. Atwell began his legislative career in 1951, and 1-12 through the course of more than two decades as a representative he 1-13 was responsible for a number of legislative initiatives and 1-14 successes, including the authorization creating the Dallas-Fort 1-15 Worth International Airport; and 1-16 WHEREAS, It was his bluntly honest confrontation with state 1-17 funding, however, that brought him the most renown, or infamy, for 1-18 Mr. Atwell is recognized as the author of the bill that established 1-19 the state sales tax in 1963; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Many fellow legislators admit that the Lone Star 1-21 State would not now enjoy its current level of education, law 1-22 enforcement, and social services if not for the practical and 1-23 farsighted courage of Mr. Atwell to carry a bill to increase badly 1-24 needed state revenue; and 2-1 WHEREAS, His sense of humor quickly overrode any fleeting 2-2 notoriety, and today, in a great blend of sorrow and jest, 2-3 Mr. Atwell rests beneath a tombstone he designed that reads: 2-4 "Lawyer-Legislator. Author of tax bill"; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The vast humor, good friendship, and wise counsel of 2-6 "Jumbo" Atwell will be sorely missed, but surely his spirit lives 2-7 on, through a pink granite marker and within the hearts and 2-8 memories of the countless Texans whose lives he touched, and it is 2-9 indeed appropriate to honor his memory at this time; now, 2-10 therefore, be it 2-11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-12 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and work of former State 2-13 Representative Ben Dodson "Jumbo" Atwell and extend sincere 2-14 sympathy to the members of his family: to his daughter, Sandi 2-15 Purdy; to his son, Ben "Duke" Atwell IV; to his grandson and two 2-16 great-grandchildren; and to the many other relatives and friends of 2-17 this singular gentleman; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 2-20 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 2-21 the Honorable Ben Dodson "Jumbo" Atwell.