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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Rio Grande Valley lost a visionary civic leader |
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with the death of William Summers of Weslaco on November 30, 2009, |
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at the age of 71; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Wharton, Bill Summers graduated from Donna |
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High School and attended Pan American University on a track |
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scholarship; he served his country in the United States Army and |
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then enlisted in the National Guard, rising to the rank of staff |
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sergeant; in 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, the |
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former Jo Jeanette Gray, and they went on to become the proud |
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parents of two sons, Randall and Michael; eventually, Mr. and Mrs. |
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Summers shared in the joy of welcoming four grandchildren into |
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their family; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Summers distinguished himself during a career in |
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public relations and banking; in 1987, he became president and |
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chief executive officer of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, a |
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regional chamber of commerce promoting opportunities for area |
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citizens and enterprises; he encouraged local governments, |
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economic development organizations, and chambers to collaborate |
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for the promotion of the region as a whole; and |
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WHEREAS, Under his skillful guidance, the Rio Grande Valley |
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Partnership became the first Texas chamber of commerce to establish |
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an office in Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Mr. Summers fostered |
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communication among business leaders and officials on both sides of |
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the border; he coordinated the Rio Grande Valley Mobility Task |
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Force, which has brought more than $500 million in transportation |
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funding to the area; in addition, he facilitated one of three Rural |
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Empowerment Zones, resulting in a $40 million award from the U.S. |
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Department of Agriculture; and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan also became a pioneer in the tort |
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reform movement; he founded and administered Citizens Against |
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Lawsuit Abuse, which grew to become a nationwide organization; and |
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WHEREAS, Giving generously of his time and talents, Mr. |
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Summers served as president of the Weslaco school board, the |
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Weslaco Lions Club, and the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce; the city |
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named him Man of the Year in 1974 and Outstanding Citizen in 1980, |
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and in 2009, a section of Texas Farm-to-Market Road 1015 in Weslaco |
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was named the Bill Summers International Boulevard in recognition |
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of his myriad contributions; among other accolades that Mr. Summers |
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received were the Civil Justice Appreciation Award from the Texas |
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Civil Justice League, the Russell H. Perry Award from the Texas |
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Department of Transportation, and the Legal Watchdog Award from the |
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American Tort Reform Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his knowledge, skill, and tireless |
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dedication, Bill Summers made a tremendous impact on the growth and |
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economic development of the Rio Grande Valley, and his devotion to |
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his community and his family remains a lasting inspiration to those |
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who were privileged to share in his love and friendship; 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 William "Bill" |
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Summers and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Jo Summers; to his sons, Mike Summers and Randy |
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Summers and his wife, Alma; to his grandsons, Scott, Kevin, Jacob, |
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and William Summers; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be |
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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 Bill |
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Summers. |