|
|
|
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
|
WHEREAS, The Honorable Reuben Senterfitt, who has rendered |
|
distinguished service to the State of Texas as a legislator and as |
|
speaker of the house of representatives, is marking a notable |
|
milestone on June 18, 2007, with the celebration of his 90th |
|
birthday; and |
|
WHEREAS, Born in San Saba County, Mr. Senterfitt attended San |
|
Saba High School, where he participated in debate and graduated as |
|
valedictorian in 1935; he subsequently excelled in his studies at |
|
The University of Texas School of Law, achieving appointment as |
|
editor of the Texas Law Review; and |
|
WHEREAS, Elected to the Texas Legislature at the age of 23, |
|
Mr. Senterfitt served continuously for seven terms, from 1941 to |
|
1955; during that time he also served his country in the United |
|
States Navy, seeing duty in the South Pacific and rising from the |
|
rank of ensign to lieutenant junior grade; in 1945, he traveled |
|
halfway around the world to be present at the opening of the 49th |
|
Regular Session; and |
|
WHEREAS, During his freshman term in the house, Mr. |
|
Senterfitt coauthored legislation that led to the establishment of |
|
M. D. Anderson Hospital, and in 1949, he sponsored legislation |
|
creating the state's veterans land program; he also advocated for |
|
passage of the Gilmer-Aikin bills, which reformed the Texas school |
|
system, for the adoption of the pay-as-you-go constitutional |
|
provision, and for the creation of the Texas Legislative Council |
|
and the Legislative Budget Board; his committee assignments |
|
included the vice chairmanship of the state affairs committee and |
|
chairmanship of the congressional and legislative districts and the |
|
military and veterans affairs committees; and |
|
WHEREAS, While speaker of the house from 1951 to 1955, Mr. |
|
Senterfitt was instrumental in moving the state to the use of a |
|
unified budget, a reform that significantly improved the |
|
appropriation process; he also facilitated passage of legislation |
|
authorizing construction of the Dallas-Fort Worth turnpike; and |
|
WHEREAS, After leaving the legislature, Mr. Senterfitt |
|
served as attorney for the City of San Saba and for San Saba County; |
|
his outstanding legal career ultimately spanned more than five |
|
decades before he retired to give more time to his ranching |
|
interests, his public service activities, and his beloved family; |
|
he and his wife, Pat, have been blessed with a large and lively |
|
circle of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and |
|
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan is a life fellow of the Texas Bar |
|
Foundation and a former president of the San Saba Chamber of |
|
Commerce and San Saba Rotary International; in recent years, the |
|
Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin has |
|
interviewed Mr. Senterfitt extensively as part of a project to |
|
document the key role played by Texas speakers from 1951 to the |
|
present time; and |
|
WHEREAS, For more than six decades, Reuben Senterfitt has |
|
served his fellow Texans with the utmost integrity, ability, and |
|
dedication, and he is indeed deserving of special tribute in |
|
recognition of his immeasurable contributions to the Lone Star |
|
State; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
hereby congratulate the Honorable Reuben Senterfitt on the joyous |
|
occasion of his 90th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes |
|
for continued happiness; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for Mr. Senterfitt as an expression of high regard by the |
|
Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |
|
|
Craddick |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
|
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
|
|
|
I certify that H.C.R. No. 178 was adopted by the House on |
|
April 13, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
|
|
I certify that H.C.R. No. 178 was adopted by the Senate on May |
|
2, 2007, by a viva-voce vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
Date |
|
|
|
__________________ |
|
Governor |