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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a passionate leader and |
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dynamic trailblazer with the death of the Honorable Richard F. |
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Williamson on December 30, 2007, at the age of 55; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on January 25, 1952, in Abilene, the county |
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seat of Taylor County, Ric Williamson attended The University of |
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Texas at Austin and married a fellow Longhorn, the former Mary Ann |
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Welsch, in 1973; he earned his bachelor's degree the following |
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year, and the couple went on to settle in Weatherford; they shared a |
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rewarding relationship and Mr. Williamson always took great pride |
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in his family; they raised three beautiful daughters, Melissa, |
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Katherine, and Sara, and later welcomed two grandchildren into the |
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family; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williamson founded RAW Energy with two partners |
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and later he and Mrs. Williamson established MKS Consulting |
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Corporation, which continues in operation today; in his leisure |
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time, Mr. Williams was an avid hunter and also enjoyed supporting |
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women's fast-pitch softball; and |
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WHEREAS, Caring deeply about the well-being of his community |
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and his state, Mr. Williamson began his public service in 1985, when |
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residents of Parker and Wise Counties elected him to the Texas House |
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of Representatives; during his 14 years as representative for |
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District 61, he served on a number of legislative committees and as |
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vice chair of appropriations; in this role, Mr. Williamson became |
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fondly known as one of the "Pit Bulls," conservative lawmakers who |
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seriously questioned how the state spent its money; Mr. Williamson |
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believed strongly that funding should be tied to the setting and |
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meeting of goals, a process now known as performance budgeting; his |
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professional and legislative accomplishments earned him many |
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awards through the years, and he was particularly proud of his |
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recognition as one of the state's Ten Best Legislators by Texas |
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Monthly magazine in both 1989 and 1991; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Mr. Williamson left the legislature in |
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1998, he remained committed to making a positive difference in his |
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state, and soon returned to Austin at the request of a fellow house |
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member and close friend, Governor Rick Perry; in 2001, Governor |
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Perry appointed him to serve on the Texas Transportation |
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Commission, and in January 2004, Mr. Williamson was named its |
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chair, a position he held for the rest of his life; as chair, Mr. |
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Williamson became the state's greatest advocate for improving the |
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transportation system by "thinking big, planning large, and |
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executing huge"; and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan fought tirelessly on the federal, |
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state, and local levels to bring attention to the urgent necessity |
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of acting immediately in order to meet our future transportation |
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needs; through his steadfast leadership, Texas gained a strategic |
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plan with goals to reduce congestion, improve safety, expand |
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economic opportunity, increase the value of assets along its |
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highway system, and improve the state's air quality; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williamson will be long remembered for proposing |
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and realizing ambitious solutions to the state's longstanding |
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transportation challenges, and for the lasting effect of his |
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efforts to empower local leaders to make local transportation |
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decisions; he approached all his endeavors with remarkable |
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determination, discipline, and strength, and he drew a circle of |
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close friends and admirers, enhancing their lives with his |
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friendship and loyalty; and |
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WHEREAS, Although it is impossible to measure the full effect |
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of one man's life, through his dedication to the people of Texas, |
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Ric Williamson left an inspiring legacy that will continue to shape |
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the state's infrastructure and contribute to its prosperity for |
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years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the memory of the |
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Honorable Richard F. Williamson, and extend sincere sympathy to all |
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who mourn his loss; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Richard F. |
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"Ric" Williamson, former state representative and chair of the |
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Texas Transportation Commission. |
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Kuempel |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2806 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on June 1, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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