80R19729 CBE-D

By: Gattis H.R. No. 2034

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The city of Round Rock and Williamson County have lost an admired citizen with the passing of Norman Gus Whitlow, who died on October 29, 2006; and

WHEREAS, A native Texan born in the town of Holland, "Bunky" Whitlow was the son of dairy farmers Cora and Gus Whitlow; always a hard worker, Bunky took on the task of milking the cows on his family's farm, beginning his work at 4 a.m. every day before heading off to school and helping to deliver the milk in the evening after classes had ended; and

WHEREAS, He became a star running back for the Hornets football team at Holland High School, and he received scholarship offers from both Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University; he enrolled at Texas A&M in 1944 but left after a year to join the U.S. Army; he was still in training when World War II ended, and after completing his military service, he returned to A&M and graduated in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Whitlow accepted a position teaching vocational agriculture at Round Rock High School, and after six years, he became the school's principal; during this time, he completed 38 hours of graduate study at The University of Texas at Austin as part of the master's degree program in education; and

WHEREAS, In 1957, Mr. Whitlow took up a new career challenge by accepting a job at Farmers State Bank, where he subsequently served as executive vice president from 1962 to 1970 and as president from 1970 to 1987; during his tenure, the institution's name was changed to American Bank and then to MBank, and Mr. Whitlow's able leadership helped create a tremendous growth in assets, from $2 million to more than $130 million; the bank also provided a foundation through which Mr. Whitlow recruited major companies such as Westinghouse to open facilities in the Round Rock area, thereby laying the groundwork for the city's growth into an important and vibrant business center; and

WHEREAS, After his retirement from MBank, this skilled executive joined Texas Heritage Bank, later called Regions Bank, as senior vice president, and he later maintained an office at Union State Bank in Round Rock; well known for his efforts to assist lower-income individuals and families through bank and personal loans, Bunky Whitlow attained the nickname of "the poor man's banker"; he was also greatly respected by his peers and served as director of the Texas Bankers Association and as chair of the District Bankers Association; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Whitlow's dynamic and industrious nature steered him to leadership positions in many Central Texas organizations; president of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce and copresident of its Economic Development Committee, he was also the founding organizer of Frontier Days, a treasurer and board member of the Old Settlers Association of Williamson County, and a charter member and president of the Round Rock Noon Kiwanis; moreover, he assumed numerous leadership positions during his 50 years as a congregant of Palm Valley Lutheran Church, and he figured prominently in the restoration of downtown Round Rock, playing a pivotal role in moving the historic Palm House to Main Street; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, he and his wife, Geneva, lent their names and resources to assist Capital Idea, a nonprofit job-training organization that helps underemployed adults attend college, acquire job skills, and attain gainful employment; Mr. Whitlow's steadfast efforts to assist his community and fellow citizens have been acknowledged with prestigious honors such as being named Round Rock Citizen of the Year in 1973 and receiving the Kiwanis Club George Hixon award in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Bunky Whitlow was not only successful in business and community activities but also devoted to the people in his life; when he was 10 years old, he met Geneva, then nine years old, at a wedding at St. John Lutheran Church of Bartlett, the same church in which they were married many years later; they were blessed with three children and took great joy in the many grandchildren that later joined the family; acquaintances relished Mr. Whitlow's company; his ability to find the positive side of everyone he met was well known, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need of assistance; and

WHEREAS, A successful businessman, a community leader, a loving friend and family man, and a die-hard Aggie, Bunky Whitlow excelled in all these roles, and he will be deeply missed by the many people in Central Texas who were touched by his generous nature and positive outlook; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Norman Gus Whitlow and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Geneva Alleen Steglich Whitlow; to his children, Scott Steglich Whitlow, Stuart Norman Whitlow and his wife, Margi Ligarde, and Sandia Ann Germenis and her husband, Gregory; to his grandchildren, Jason Robert Whitlow, Augustus Whitlow Germenis, Patricia Alleen Germenis, Samuel Thomas Albert Whitlow, and Mitchell Holland Whitlow; 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 Bunky Whitlow.