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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Arlington lost one of its influential |
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leaders with the passing of former mayor and longtime city council |
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member SJ Stovall on July 14, 2010, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on September 26, 1925, in Lufkin, SJ Stovall |
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received his two-letter first name when his parents put his |
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father's initials on his birth certificate as a temporary measure |
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and ended up never changing it; he served his nation as a member of |
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the U.S. Air Force and studied at Texas A&M University before taking |
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a position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked |
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for 34 years; and |
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WHEREAS, After being assigned to the Arlington area, Mr. |
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Stovall and his family settled in the city in 1950; his career in |
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local government began in 1963 when he was first elected to the city |
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council; his engineering background was of great benefit during the |
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years when Interstate 20 was constructed through the Metroplex, and |
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he also provided key input and guidance on numerous other issues |
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during his 14 years as a council member; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1977, he was serving as mayor pro tem when Mayor |
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Tom Vandergriff unexpectedly announced that he was leaving office; |
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Mr. Stovall took over as mayor and remained in that post for six |
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years; his tenure was highlighted by his successful support for the |
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building of the Arlington Convention Center and an adjacent hotel |
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on land that had previously been occupied by a failed theme park |
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owned by the city; the convention center project boosted the city's |
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stature and finances and is credited with laying the groundwork for |
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further development; in addition, Mayor Stovall helped convince a |
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number of companies to establish operations in Arlington and was |
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instrumental in the founding of Leadership Arlington; and |
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WHEREAS, This accomplished public servant opted not to seek |
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reelection in 1983; soon after stepping down, he was appointed to |
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the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, where he served with |
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distinction until 1985; he also held other prominent positions |
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through the years, including service as president of the North |
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Central Texas Council of Governments, as chair of the Central |
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Regional Waste Water System Advisory Committee, and as a member of |
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the boards for Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex and Arlington |
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Memorial Hospital; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his many contributions, the City |
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of Arlington named SJ Stovall Park in his honor in 1991; that |
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tribute is a reflection of the great respect that was afforded Mayor |
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Stovall by his fellow citizens, and he will be fondly remembered and |
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greatly missed by all who had the good fortune to know him; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable SJ |
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Stovall and extend deepest condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his son, Marc Stovall; to his daughter, Elizabeth |
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Stovall; to his sister, Marilyn Stovall; and to his other relatives |
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and friends; 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 SJ Stovall. |
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Patrick |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 404 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 3, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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