| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Texas lost an esteemed leader with the passing of |
|
|
the Honorable Robert Barnes on March 12, 2007, at the age of 78; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, An elected official in Nueces County for 36 years, |
|
|
including 24 years as county judge, Bob Barnes made a lasting mark |
|
|
on the Southeast Texas area, where he was appreciated for his humble |
|
|
character and respected for his diligent oversight of government |
|
|
operations; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Judge Barnes began his service after being elected |
|
|
as a county commissioner of Nueces County in 1958; he was 29 years |
|
|
old at the time, making him the youngest member of the commissioners |
|
|
court; he was reelected in 1962 and 1966 and then sought the |
|
|
position of county judge in 1970; his electoral victory that year |
|
|
began his extended tenure as the county's chief administrator, |
|
|
which continued until his resignation in 1994; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, During the decades that he presided over the |
|
|
commissioners court, Judge Barnes championed a number of measures |
|
|
that helped Nueces County cope with changing circumstances; he was |
|
|
a powerful supporter of the unit road system that was approved by |
|
|
voters in 1984 to streamline road building and maintenance |
|
|
operations; he also oversaw the construction of a new courthouse |
|
|
and a new jail annex, and he supported efforts of the county to |
|
|
recoup millions of dollars in costs for housing felons in its jails; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This responsible administrator is remembered for |
|
|
his fiscal conservatism; he continually sought ways to keep costs |
|
|
low, personally reviewing every county purchase order and requiring |
|
|
department heads to justify their expenses and staffing; his close |
|
|
oversight contributed to government efficiency and reinforced the |
|
|
judge's principle of using taxpayer funds as wisely as possible; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Known for his dry wit and quiet demeanor, Judge |
|
|
Barnes avoided the limelight and even refused to have a farewell |
|
|
celebration when he left office; nonetheless, his honesty and |
|
|
distinguished service won the allegiance of the voters who |
|
|
repeatedly reelected him; a reassuring and reliable force who |
|
|
guided the county through a period of immense change, Bob Barnes |
|
|
dedicated himself to the worthy goal of providing effective |
|
|
government for his constituents, and that exceptional legacy will |
|
|
long be remembered by the residents of Nueces County; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Judge Robert Barnes |
|
|
and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
|
|
wife, Mary; to his children, John Barnes, Robert Barnes, and Martha |
|
|
Barnes Nelson; to his two 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Judge |
|
|
Barnes. |