H.R. No. 983

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, During his many decades as an elected official and community business leader in McAllen, the Honorable Othal E. Brand, Sr., has had a lasting . . . and lasting . . . and lasting influence on the city of McAllen; and

WHEREAS, The mayor of McAllen from 1977 until 1997, this tireless public servant helped guide the city through two eventful decades that witnessed great economic and civic progress in South Texas; while Mayor Brand may not have succeeded in his valiant campaign to rid the city of grackles, there is no denying that his efforts have made an indelible mark on his adopted hometown; and

WHEREAS, Othal Brand was born on August 12, 1919, in Grayson, Georgia, and began his love affair with vegetables soon after his mother fed him his first spoonful of mushy peas; a born entrepreneur, he entered the business world at a young age, and he and his brother Bill established Brand Brothers Produce in Atlanta, the city where he grew up; and

WHEREAS, Opting to put his budding fruit and vegetable empire on hold during World War II, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served his nation in the South Pacific; he returned stateside at war's end, and he and his wife, Kathryn Louise, were joined in matrimony in 1945; whether it was due to Mrs. Brand's good sense or some other factor, the couple moved in the mid-1950s to McAllen, a town Mr. Brand had first visited in the late 1930s; and

WHEREAS, Warm weather makes most people slow down a step or two, but Othal Brand is not most people; once settled beneath the South Texas sun, he went to work, teaming with Jack Griffin to found Griffin & Brand of McAllen; the company grew into one of the nation's largest vegetable producers, processors, and shippers, and Mr. Brand became a titan of agriculture, eventually earning a place in the Texas Heritage Hall of Honor for his contributions to farming and ranching; in time, he sought elective office, serving as a member of the school board and as a city commissioner in addition to his 20 years as McAllen's mayor; and

WHEREAS, Juggling numerous business and governmental responsibilities was apparently not enough of a challenge for Mayor Brand, so he found other jobs that needed doing; he played a key role in establishing organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of McAllen and the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, and he has been a member of numerous boards and committees; all in all, this mover and shaker has proven himself capable of excelling in darn near anything he sets his mind to, and McAllen has become a better place as a result; and

WHEREAS, Through the years, Mayor Brand has also cultivated a fine family; he and his wife have four children and also relish the time they spend with their numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, In his many decades as a community leader, Othal Brand has time and again demonstrated an unwavering determination to follow his convictions and to bring others along for the ride, and he has become a legendary figure whose achievements will continue to resonate in South Texas for decades to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Othal E. Brand, Sr., for his dedicated service to the city of McAllen and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Brand as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Gonzales

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 983 was adopted by the House on April 2, 2009, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House