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78S40632 MMS-D

By:  Baxter                                                       H.R. No. 103



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The people of Austin and Central Texas have lost a 
civic leader of rare ability and dedication with the passing of 
Dr. W. Neal Kocurek on March 29, 2004, at the age of 67; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Austin in 1936, Dr. Kocurek graduated from 
Austin High School as salutatorian of his class and went on to earn 
B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from The 
University of Texas at Austin; he enjoyed a successful career as an 
entrepreneur and corporate executive, cofounding two companies, 
Unitech, Inc., and Radian International LLC, and helping to guide 
Radian for nearly three decades; since 1998 he had served as 
president and CEO of St. David's HealthCare System; and
	WHEREAS, Although he never held public office, Dr. Kocurek 
left an imprint on Austin and the surrounding region that has seldom 
been equaled; enjoying the esteem and trust of leaders throughout 
the community, he repeatedly brought people together to achieve 
progress in areas such as health care, public education, higher 
education, transportation, water, social equity, and regional 
stewardship; and
	WHEREAS, While serving at the helm of St. David's, 
Dr. Kocurek oversaw the transition of that medical center into the 
St. David's HealthCare Partnership, and he played a pivotal role in 
integrating St. David's charitable mission into the principles 
guiding its new partner institutions; he was also instrumental in 
creating a structure to coordinate health care for the poor among 
regional providers and in establishing projects to provide free 
dental care for children and to address the root causes of health 
problems in the city of Austin; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Kocurek's extraordinary skill at building 
consensus was especially evident in the negotiations that led to 
the creation of State Highway 130 and to other transportation 
advances, as well as in the steps that led to the construction of 
the Austin Convention Center; and
	WHEREAS, A stalwart friend of public education in the Capital 
City, he helped to plan and pass several school bond issues and 
worked with individual schools to promote staff development; his 
counsel was sought by district superintendents and educators, as 
well as by leaders of The University of Texas and Austin Community 
College; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Kocurek served for more than 30 years on 
Austin's Electric Utility Commission, played a critical part in 
securing the present quarters of the Austin History Center, and 
helped to establish the West Austin Youth Association (WAYA) and 
Envision Central Texas; he was also involved with the People's 
Community Clinic, Austin Technology Incubator, Austin Area Urban 
League, Texas Institute for Health Policy Research, and Austin Area 
Research Organization, for which he served two years as president; 
and
	WHEREAS, Among the many accolades he received over the years 
were the Distinguished Service Medal, conferred by the mayor of 
Austin, the Leadership in Regionalism Award, granted by the Capital 
Area Planning Council, and the first honorary degree bestowed by 
Leadership Austin; Dr. Kocurek was further selected as the 360 
Summit Civic Entrepreneur of the Year, as Austinite of the Year in 
1989, and as Austin's Most Worthy Citizen in 2002; and
	WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan was the devoted husband of 
Mary Kocurek and the proud father of three children, Jeffrey and 
Kelly Kocurek and Suzanne Rose; when his children were younger, he 
spent many years coaching their WAYA sports teams; a passionate 
reader, he also found relaxation in hunting, especially when he was 
able to join his sons on trips to South Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Though his journey on this earth has ended far too 
soon, Neal Kocurek leaves an extraordinary legacy in the leaders he 
has mentored and in the programs, projects, and institutions he has 
helped bring to fruition; his life was rich in family, friends, and 
accomplishments, and his memory will be forever cherished by a host 
of loved ones and fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby pay special tribute to the 
life of Dr. W. Neal Kocurek and extend deepest sympathy to the 
members of his family: to his wife, Mary Kocurek; to his children 
and their spouses, Jeffrey Kocurek and his wife, Dana, Kelly 
Kocurek and his wife, Julie, and Suzanne Rose and her husband, 
Brian; to his grandchildren, Zachary, Rebecca, Will, Mary Frances, 
Cole, and Clayton; to his parents, Maurine and Willie L. Kocurek; to 
his sister, Kay Kocurek Bell; and to all who mourn the passing of 
this beloved gentleman; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. W. Neal 
Kocurek.