79S30034 MDM-D

By:  Woolley                                                      H.R. No. 32 



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, With the passing of Walter M. Mischer of Houston on 
December 18, 2005, at the age of 83, the State of Texas has lost an 
eminent citizen and a renowned entrepreneur; and
	WHEREAS, Born on July 4, 1922, in Karnes County, Mr. Mischer 
grew up in South Texas; he studied engineering at Texas College of 
Arts and Industries, now Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and 
financed college by stringing fence on the King Ranch; and
	WHEREAS, At the age of 19 he moved to Houston, seeking 
employment in the construction industry; he built naval bases in 
the Caribbean as a project manager with Stone & Webster during World 
War II, then worked as a supervisor and built refineries for Foster 
Wheeler Corporation before starting his own construction company in 
1946; and
	WHEREAS, Mischer Investments, a major real-estate 
development company, figures prominently in Mr. Mischer's 
extraordinary list of professional accomplishments; over the 
years, this renowned businessman was instrumental in the creation 
of numerous subdivisions--and thousands of affordable homes--in 
the Houston area; moreover, he was a part owner of extensive 
property in Belize and in West Texas, where his interests included a 
resort development at Lajitas and Big Bend Ranch, a magnificent 
wilderness area that is now part of the state park system; and
	WHEREAS, A cofounder and director of Marathon Manufacturing 
Company, an energy services enterprise, Mr. Mischer was also a 
founder of Allied Bancshares, Inc., which grew to become one of the 
largest bank-holding companies in the state; he served as chairman 
of the latter corporation from its inception in 1971 until its 
merger with First Interstate of Los Angeles in 1987; and
	WHEREAS, Walter Mischer married the former Mary Alford on 
August 15, 1943, and the couple enjoyed a rewarding union of 62 
years; committed to making a positive difference in the world, they 
created the Walter M. Mischer and Mary A. Mischer Foundation, which 
has rendered significant support to the Institute of Molecular 
Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, a component of The 
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; other 
institutions to benefit from their philanthropy have been The 
University of Texas Medical School at Houston, The University of 
Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, and The 
University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston; and
	WHEREAS, A host of accolades attest to the high regard in 
which this esteemed Texan was held; among the honors bestowed on him 
were the Outstanding Citizen of Houston award in 1965, induction 
into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 1985, and an Impact Award, 
conferred by the West Houston Association in 2004; and
	WHEREAS, The son of a ranching family, Mr. Mischer retained a 
deep appreciation of the land and derived profound pleasure from 
his own ranch at Easterly, in Robertson County; and
	WHEREAS, A towering business and civic leader, Walter Mischer 
left an indelible stamp on the Lone Star State; he will long be 
missed by countless fellow citizens and forever treasured by those 
who were privileged to share in his friendship and affection; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of 
Walter M. Mischer and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his 
family:  to his wife, Mary Mischer; to his daughter, Paula Mischer; 
to his son and daughter-in-law, Walter M. Mischer, Jr., and Leila W. 
Mischer; to his grandchildren, Robert L. Corson and his wife, 
Olivia, Walter R. Corson and his wife, Jodie, Candace Watson, 
Duncan M. Watson, Walter M. Mischer III, Lawson W. Mischer, and 
Morgan J. Mischer; to his great-grandchildren, Nicholas A. Corson 
and Andrew Corson; to his sisters, Edna Kerlick and Marilyn Russell 
and her husband, Tom; to his sister-in-law, Louise Alford; and to 
his other relatives and friends; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House 
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Walter 
M. Mischer.