H.R. No. 1437

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Jack Autry Bills of Kerrville passed away on January 23, 2011, at the age of 84, leaving his circle of family and friends to cherish their many happy memories of time spent in his company; and

WHEREAS, Jack Bills was born in Graham on November 22, 1926, to John Rush and Clemmie Bills; he was a gifted singer and learned to play the guitar at a young age, and he performed with his brother's band, the Swingsters; raised on a farm, he was intrigued by glimpses of the wider world afforded him in his history books at Graham High School, and he hitchhiked to Lubbock to enroll at Texas Tech University after graduating; and

WHEREAS, Interrupting his studies to answer his nation's call to duty, Mr. Bills served as an aviation electronics technician mate in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he later returned to Texas Tech, where he earned a degree in petroleum engineering; along the way, he married his high school sweetheart, the former Betty Ruth Butler; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bills began his career working in West Texas for Carr Geophysical; he subsequently joined the Mene Grande Oil Company, serving from 1954 to 1965 in San Tome, Venezuela, and went on to work for Gulf Oil and Conquest Petroleum in such exotic locations as Bolivia, Kuwait, Zaire, and Suriname; during those years, Mr. Bills and his family lived an eventful life, fishing the Orinoco River, climbing the Andes Mountains, visiting the ruins of Persepolis, and boating down the Nile, among many other adventures; and

WHEREAS, Retiring to Kerrville in 1984, Mr. Bills continued his energetic pace; he was a member of the Rotary Club, earning distinction as a Paul Harris Fellow, and he donated his time as a mentor at Kerrville elementary schools; a man of faith, he was active in men's Bible study and the 21st Century Sunday School Class at the First United Methodist Church, and he enjoyed playing bridge and golf and participating in a supper club; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bills often "just happened to have his guitar" with him, and he and his wife would sing together at gatherings of their friends; moreover, he was a member of his church choir and served as song leader for the 21st Century Class; and

WHEREAS, Jack Bills lived a life rich in experiences and accomplishments, and although he is deeply missed, he leaves behind a legacy of generosity, engagement, and joie de vivre that will continue to inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jack Autry Bills and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife of 64 years, Betty Ruth Bills; to his children, Sharon Curry and her husband, Bruce, Richard Bills and his wife, Nancy, and Kathryn Albright and her husband, Jon; to his grandchildren, Rebecca Lewis and her husband, Eddie, David Curry and his wife, Karen, Sarah Daniels and her husband, Otis, Nathan Bills and his wife, Nicole, Rachel Albright, and Madeline Albright; to his great-grandchildren, Zack Curry, Dylan Daniels, and Austin and Katharine Bills; to his sisters, Dorothy Ligon and Mary Glyn Mayes and her husband, Neal; 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 Jack Autry Bills.

Hilderbran

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1437 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on April 28, 2011.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House