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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Citizens of Northeast Texas lost an esteemed public |
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servant, businessman, and community leader with the death of John |
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H. McCoy on February 13, 2007, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on June 1, 1922, in Naples, John "Wimpy" McCoy |
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married the former Tommie Elliott on August 11, 1946, and the couple |
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made their home on a farm south of New Boston; in addition to his |
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farm and cattle operation, he owned and managed McCoy's Pharmacy, |
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where he welcomed newcomers to town with generous offers of credit; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. McCoy entered public service in the 1950s as an |
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alderman on the city council and subsequently became mayor in 1963; |
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during his distinguished tenure, which spanned more than three |
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decades, he boosted the town's economy through a variety of |
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initiatives, including privatizing the landfill and advocating for |
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the construction of a nearby prison unit; in addition, he improved |
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and expanded the city park, helped organize the Lake Texarkana |
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Water Supply Corporation, and fought the 1995 Base Realignment and |
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Closure of the Red River Army Depot; his service was also |
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characterized by compassion for senior citizens, to whom he was |
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known to send gift baskets, and by community fish fries, which he |
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hosted at his farm; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to the progress of New Boston and |
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Northeast Texas, Wimpy McCoy went above and beyond his mayoral |
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duties; he was a founding member and president of the Ark-Tex |
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Council of Government, which serves and represents nine Texas |
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counties and one Arkansas county, and he helped develop a hospital |
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authority for West End Bowie County; in 1968, he was instrumental in |
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founding the Bowie County Savings and Loan Association, which he |
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went on to serve as president, director, and chairman of the board; |
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two years later, he was appointed by Governor Preston Smith to the |
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Texas Water Development Board, which he later served as chairman; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. McCoy also shared his time and talents with |
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numerous local organizations, including the New Boston Industrial |
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Foundation, the New Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Northeast Texas |
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Economic Development District, the New Boston United Way, the New |
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Boston Lions Club, and the Boy Scouts of America Caddo District, to |
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name but a few; he was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner, and he was a |
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faithful member of First Baptist Church, where he served in several |
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leadership roles, including deacon; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Wimpy McCoy was known for his firm approach |
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to civic affairs, those who knew him best were touched by his |
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kindness, loyalty, and genuine concern for the community; he |
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contributed immeasurably to New Boston, Bowie County, and Northeast |
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Texas, and he leaves behind a legacy of accomplishments that will |
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long serve the common good; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of John H. "Wimpy" McCoy and extend |
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sincere sympathy to his sister, Dorothy Jordan, to his other |
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relatives, and to his many friends and admirers throughout the |
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community; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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John H. "Wimpy" McCoy. |