H.C.R. No. 59

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A visionary military and business leader who helped guide the development of San Antonio for more than 30 years, Brigadier General Robert F. McDermott passed away on August 28, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Born in Boston on July 31, 1920, Robert Francis McDermott entered the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1943 in the midst of World War II; joining the U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe, he flew 61 combat missions as a fighter pilot, and, when the war concluded, he was appointed to the staff of General Dwight D. Eisenhower; for his distinguished service to his nation, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the European Theater of Operations Ribbon, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit; and

WHEREAS, General McDermott, often known simply as "McD," next focused on training other military leaders; after teaching at West Point, he was appointed to the faculty of the newly established United States Air Force Academy in 1954, becoming its first permanent professor in 1957 and its permanent dean of the faculty in 1959; often called the father of modern military education, he implemented pioneering innovations at the academy that were soon emulated by other military schools; and

WHEREAS, On his retirement from the air force in 1968, General McDermott became chair and chief executive officer for the United Services Automobile Association and brought his family to San Antonio; employing his well-honed leadership skills and the expertise he had gained from Harvard University's graduate program in business administration, which he had completed in 1950, General McDermott transformed USAA into a large and profitable insurance and diversified financial services company; beginning with 2,600 employees and $200 million dollars in assets, he guided USAA into a $30-billion business with a workforce of 16,000; heading one of the top auto underwriters in the country, the general became a powerful advocate for greater motor vehicle safety, championing air bags long before they became a standard feature in cars; at the same time that he urged his workforce to improve customer service, he made sure that the company adequately served the employees by providing advanced training, educational opportunities, flexible schedules, and child care; under his watch, USAA became a leader in minority hiring and promotion, setting an example that was followed by other San Antonio firms; and

WHEREAS, His influence on the business community of his adopted hometown was reflected in many other ways, as well; after becoming chair of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce in 1974, he founded and chaired the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, which is credited with creating nearly 70,000 new jobs and attracting 280 companies to the city, including Toyota and Southwestern Bell; General McDermott was also the primary force behind the creation of the Texas Research and Technology Foundation and Texas Research Park, which has made San Antonio an important center for the biotechnology industry; and

WHEREAS, A man of tremendous energy, General McDermott was also involved in the creation of United San Antonio, a coalition of community, business, and government leaders that focused on social and economic issues, and in the investor group that owned the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, serving as its chair from 1993 to 1996; and

WHEREAS, General McDermott's many successes earned him a long list of honors, including five honorary doctoral degrees, the Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Military Academy, the Alumni Achievement Award from Harvard University, and the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, to name but a few; in addition, many buildings, roadways, and academic appointments bear his name, including a San Antonio elementary school, a segment of the I-10 freeway, a clinical science center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the library at the United States Air Force Academy, and academic chairs at both West Point and the Air Force Academy; and

WHEREAS, These accolades speak to the epic stature and the monumental accomplishments of Robert F. McDermott, a man of immense and varied abilities who, in sharing his skills, transformed the course of military education in the United States, built an enormously successful insurance company, and played a central role in making his adopted home city of San Antonio into a prosperous metropolis; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to the life of Brigadier General Robert Francis McDermott and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Marion Slemon "Marnie" McDermott; to his children, Patricia Beynet, Robert F. McDermott, Jr., David W. McDermott, Betsy Gwin, and Mark S. McDermott; to his sisters, Claire Carey, Marguerite Marshall, and Ruth Ahern; to his 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in honor of Brigadier General Robert F. McDermott.

Martinez Fischer

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 59 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 1, 2007.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 59 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the Senate on April 10, 2007.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor