H.R. No. 1661

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Citizens of Lee County are mourning the loss of a beloved public servant with the death of Sheriff Joe G. Goodson on April 7, 2007; and

WHEREAS, The youngest of five children, Joe Goodson was born to Bertha Cottrell and Vernon A. Goodson of Dime Box on Valentine's Day, 1944; he was a star football player at his high school in Giddings, making All-District his sophomore year and All-Centex his junior year; and

WHEREAS, After high school, he attended Blinn College, and in 1966 he married Brenda Harmel; their union lasted 32 years, until her death in 1998; fortunate to find love again, he married Robyn Mitschke on July 23, 2000; and

WHEREAS, Following in the footsteps of his father, who had been the sheriff of Lee County for 25 years, Joe Goodson took office in 1978; he placed a priority on upgrading the department's equipment, acquiring patrol cars for officers who had previously been using their own vehicles and ensuring that his staff had the latest communications technology and investigative tools at their disposal; and

WHEREAS, In the course of his 29 years as Lee County sheriff, he earned a well-deserved reputation among his colleagues and his community for his fairness and decency; while upholding the highest standards of law enforcement, he also found time to attend funerals in support of grieving families and frequently stopped by the homes of those who were ill; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Goodson's service to Lee County expressed itself in many ways; he initiated the drug-and-alcohol-free party for graduating high school seniors known as Grad Bash, and he was in charge of the Blue Santa Program for 20 years; he also served on the board of directors of the Giddings Area Chamber of Commerce and was active in the March of Dimes; and

WHEREAS, He contributed greatly to his profession as president of the Sheriffs' Association of Texas and as a member of various committees of that organization, including the Auto Theft Task Force, the Narcotics Task Force, and the Cold Case Review Team; he headed the Lee County Sheriff's Posse and served on the Attorney General's County Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Goodson's dedication and commitment were honored by such awards as the YRA Hall of Fame Award, the Peacemaker Award, and the Master Peace Officer Award; in 1990 he was named Giddings Citizen of the Year; and

WHEREAS, A devoted father and husband, Joe Goodson cherished his family and took great pleasure in his grandchildren, with whom he shared many happy times; a lover of the outdoors, he was an accomplished gardener who gave away much of what he grew, and he was also an expert cook of barbecue and chili and an elder and usher at Dime Box Brethren Church; and

WHEREAS, Joe Goodson combined consummate professionalism with a deep compassion for his fellow citizens, preserving the peace and protecting the public in Lee County for nearly 30 years; a familiar and reassuring presence in his cowboy hat and spotless white shirt, he commanded widespread respect while earning the genuine affection of his family, colleagues, friends, and community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas Legislature hereby honor the life of Sheriff Joe G. Goodson and extend heartfelt condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Robyn Goodson; to his son, Walt A. Goodson and his wife, Melissa; to his daughters, Jill and her husband, John P. Campbell, and Sarah Jane and her husband, Scott Miller; to his grandchildren, Erin, Zane, Caroline, and Jack; to his stepchildren, Crystal Gray-Morris, Jason Mitschke, Margie Nunes, and Aaron Mitschke and their children; to his brother, Charles Goodson; to his sisters, Mary Frances Symmank and her husband, Ben Charles, and Verna Shaw and her husband, Bill; to his sisters-in-law, Betty Goodson and Sharon Scott; to his brother-in-law, Aubrey Harmel and his wife, Evelyn; to his mother-in-law, Nellie Harmel; to his mother and father-in-law, Betty and Ken Beasley; 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 Sheriff Goodson.

Cook of Colorado

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1661 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 11, 2007.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House