R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The family and friends of the Honorable Burt
1-2 O'Connell of Van Vleck, former Matagorda County judge, were deeply
1-3 saddened by the passing of this esteemed gentleman on April 1,
1-4 2000, at the age of 74; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Born on September 20, 1925, Judge O'Connell
1-6 graduated from Van Vleck High School in 1942, and he answered his
1-7 country's call to duty and served in the United States Navy during
1-8 World War II; and
1-9 WHEREAS, In 1947, Judge O'Connell married Florine Smith, and
1-10 the couple owned and operated a local grocery store until 1960,
1-11 when he became a real estate broker and developer; and
1-12 WHEREAS, This dedicated Texan contributed much of his time to
1-13 the betterment of his community; he was Matagorda County judge from
1-14 1978 until the mid-1990s, and was a member of the board of trustees
1-15 of Van Vleck ISD; he served several terms as Matagorda County
1-16 Democratic Party chairman, and was president of the Bay City Lions
1-17 Club; he also belonged to American Legion Post No. 11 for 54 years
1-18 and was a lifelong member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No.
1-19 2438; and
1-20 WHEREAS, A committed public servant, Judge O'Connell took
1-21 special pride in his association with the Jackson Electric
1-22 Cooperative, the South Texas Electric Cooperative, and the San
1-23 Miguel Electric Cooperative, and he served on the Jackson Electric
1-24 Board of Directors for 39 years; and
2-1 WHEREAS, Judge O'Connell was a charter member of the First
2-2 United Methodist Church of Van Vleck, where he was administrative
2-3 council chairman and a member of the board of trustees for many
2-4 years; and
2-5 WHEREAS, This estimable individual was a dedicated public
2-6 servant, family man, and community leader whose life had a positive
2-7 impact on countless people, and it is indeed appropriate to honor
2-8 the memory of Burt O'Connell at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-10 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Burt
2-11 O'Connell and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:
2-12 to his son, Michael B. O'Connell; to his brother, Ray O'Connell; to
2-13 his sisters, Dorothy Stafford and Nancy Bridgwater; to his
2-14 grandchildren, Michael B. O'Connell and Ashley O'Connell; and to
2-15 his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further
2-16 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-17 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-18 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-19 the Honorable Burt O'Connell.
Uher
Howard
Laney Goodman Merritt
Alexander Goolsby Miller
Allen Gray Moreno of Harris
Averitt Green Moreno of El Paso
Bailey Grusendorf Morrison
Berman Gutierrez Mowery
Bonnen Haggerty Naishtat
Bosse Hamric Najera
Brimer Hardcastle Nixon
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Noriega
Brown of Brazos Hawley Oliveira
Burnam Heflin Olivo
Callegari Hilbert Pickett
Capelo Hilderbran Pitts
Carter Hill Puente
Chavez Hinojosa Ramsay
Chisum Hochberg Rangel
Christian Hodge Raymond
Clark Homer Reyna of Bexar
Coleman Hope Reyna of Dallas
Cook Hopson Ritter
Corte Howard Sadler
Counts Hunter Salinas
Crabb Hupp Seaman
Craddick Isett Shields
Crownover Janek Smith
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Davis of Harris Jones of Bexar Solis
Davis of Dallas Jones of Dallas Solomons
Delisi Junell Swinford
Denny Keel Talton
Deshotel Keffer Telford
Driver King of Parker Thompson
Dukes King of Uvalde Tillery
Dunnam Kitchen Truitt
Dutton Kolkhorst Turner of Coleman
Edwards Krusee Turner of Harris
Ehrhardt Kuempel Uher
Eiland Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Elkins Lewis of Orange Villarreal
Ellis Longoria Walker
Farabee Luna West
Farrar McCall Williams
Flores McClendon Wilson
Gallego McReynolds Wise
Garcia Madden Wohlgemuth
George Marchant Wolens
Geren Martinez Fischer Woolley
Giddings Maxey Yarbrough
Glaze Menendez Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 176 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on February 21, 2001.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House