82R32520 MMS-D

By: Eiland H.R. No. 2777

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Honorable Warren D. Chisum has earned the esteem and affection of his fellow legislators and rendered conscientious service to the people of his district and to the Lone Star State; and

WHEREAS, Representative Chisum was born in Miami, in the Texas Panhandle, and he has lived in Pampa for most of his life; before entering the legislature, he built a successful career in the oil and gas industry; it is a business he knows from the ground up, having gotten his start as an oil well driller; he went on to purchase an oil field trucking concern and then to found two oil and gas production and exploration companies; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, Warren Chisum made his first run for a seat in the Texas House; he won the race, and he has not faced an opponent in the general election since; now ranked seventh in seniority, he represents the third-largest house district in Texas and works tirelessly in behalf of his constituents and rural Texans; his dedication to their interests and his bulldog tenacity, his long tenure at the Capitol, and his consummate skill at navigating the legislative process have made him a highly effective advocate in the halls of the statehouse; and

WHEREAS, Possessed of a keen intelligence and a seemingly inexhaustible capacity for hard work, Representative Chisum currently serves on the Appropriations and Environmental Regulation Committees, both of which he has chaired in sessions past; and

WHEREAS, Representative Chisum has participated in a number of groups concerned with energy issues, providing leadership to the Energy Council, an international organization of legislators, and the council's research affiliate, as well as committees functioning under the auspices of the Southern Legislative Conference, National Conference of State Legislators, and American Legislative Exchange Council; and

WHEREAS, A staunch champion of conservative principles, Representative Chisum currently serves as president of the board of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, a group he cofounded, and as a member of the board of the Texas Conservative Coalition; and

WHEREAS, Many community organizations and worthy causes have also benefited from Representative Chisum's astute guidance; he has served on the boards of Wayland Baptist University and Scottish Rite Dormitory in Austin and on the advisory council of Clarendon College; in addition, he holds membership in the Gray County Christian Coalition and in the Texas and Pampa Masonic Lodges, and he regularly teaches Sunday school at First Baptist Church in his hometown; and

WHEREAS, Among the numerous accolades conferred on Representative Chisum have been the Families First Award from the Texas chapter of Concerned Women of America and the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Texas Christian Coalition; and

WHEREAS, Always fair and open to discussion, Representative Chisum is known as a straight shooter, a man whose word is his bond; freshman legislators also quickly discover his down-to-earth friendliness and droll sense of humor, as well as his readiness to help them learn the ropes; his generosity in this regard is all the more welcome because no one in the chamber has a more extensive knowledge of house rules and procedures, or a better ability to call on them at the appropriate time; illustrative of his mastery is his reputation as the King of Points of Order; typically calm and low-key, however, he has always raised his questions in such a manner as to maintain cordial relations with the author of the measure; and

WHEREAS, While acquainting new members with the thicket of house procedures, Representative Chisum often leavens his lessons with light-hearted advice; on at least one occasion, his tutelage included the suggestion that the best time to pass a nongermane amendment was late at night, when no one was paying attention, a tactic he himself has effectively employed; and

WHEREAS, In his leisure hours, Representative Chisum finds joy and relaxation in time spent with his family and in outdoor avocations, notably working on his cattle ranch and hunting and fishing; a fount of information about a vast range of subjects, he is seldom at a loss when reaching the limits of his actual knowledge, as attested by his lengthy, creative commentary on the art of cod fishing, a topic about which he truly knew next to nothing, while on a trip to Newfoundland; as adventurous in his sporting pursuits as he is enthusiastic, he has also tried his hand at soaring and whitewater rafting; and

WHEREAS, Warren Chisum married his high school sweetheart, Omega, in 1957, and the couple will celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary in October 2011; the proud parents of two children, Jeff and Kim, they have been additionally blessed with six grandchildren, and their family has grown to include a fourth generation; and

WHEREAS, Representative Chisum has commented on the satisfaction he finds in being able, as a legislator, to serve a great number of people, and he has indeed represented his constituents well and faithfully over the course of more than two decades; moreover, through his broad expertise, his unfailing commitment to his district, and his genial relationships with his fellow members, he has long played a key role in the deliberations of this chamber and gained the high regard of all who have had the pleasure of working with him; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Warren D. Chisum for his many years of outstanding public service and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued fulfillment and happiness in all his endeavors; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Representative Chisum as an expression of high regard by his colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives.