H.R. No. 443
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, James G. Dickson has greatly contributed to the
  betterment of his Gulf Coast community, and the cities of Lake
  Jackson, Freeport, and Clute and the Brazosport Area Chamber of
  Commerce are joining together on February 20, 2007, to honor this
  notable Texan; and
         WHEREAS, Growing up, Gil Dickson loved hunting, fishing, and
  horseback riding, and his interest led him to study every inch of
  his surroundings; in 1941, while on summer break from college, he
  found a job that used his knowledge of the land, making maps of the
  town of Lake Jackson for Dow Chemical Company; and
         WHEREAS, He received invaluable personal direction from
  renowned architect Alden Dow and Texas Dow general manager A. P.
  Beutel, who inspired him with original ideas on land development;
  their plans replaced small checkerboard blocks with large blocks,
  curving streets, and prominent green areas that distinguish Lake
  Jackson to this day; and
         WHEREAS, After earning his civil engineering degree from The
  University of Texas and proudly serving his country in World War II,
  Mr. Dickson returned to his home in Freeport; he worked on a
  hurricane levee project before joining former county engineer T. J.
  Dunbar in an engineering partnership that added numerous
  neighborhoods in Lake Jackson and designed streets, drainage,
  utilities, and additions for the City of Freeport, as well as
  buildings and facilities for Port Freeport; and
         WHEREAS, When Hurricane Carla destroyed area levees in 1961,
  Dunbar and Dickson Engineering worked with the Velasco Drainage
  District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to produce a superior
  levee system that remains well-respected among engineers today; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Dickson's original ideas led to a host of unique
  consulting jobs; he helped to develop an anechoic chamber for the
  NASA Johnson Space Center, listened to space chatter with the
  National Radio Astronomy Observatory in New Mexico, worked on
  projects for the Navajo Nation in Arizona, and assisted Standard
  Oil in planning a new town in Everett, Washington; and
         WHEREAS, In addition to his professional contributions, Mr.
  Dickson volunteered his time to the local chamber of commerce,
  becoming the organization's youngest president and earning the
  title Man of the Year for his many civic endeavors; and
         WHEREAS, A devoted family man, he shared many years with Ora
  Wehring Dickson before her passing; fortunate to find love a second
  time, he now shares his life with Beth Reid Dickson; he is blessed
  with  four  children,   Jim  Dickson,   Linda  McIrvin,   Jeff Reid,   
  and Shelley Hawkins, four grandchildren, and three
  great-grandchildren; and
         WHEREAS, Although it is impossible to fully gauge the impact
  of a man's life, some individuals leave their unmistakable mark on
  the world as they move through it, and the contributions Gil Dickson
  has made continue to resonate in his community; now, therefore, be
  it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas
  Legislature hereby honor James G. "Gil" Dickson for his work in
  behalf of the Texas Gulf Coast area and extend to him sincere best
  wishes for the future; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Mr. Dickson as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.
 
  Bonnen
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 443 was adopted by the House on
  February 15, 2007, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House