|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 392
|
|
|
|
In Memory |
|
of |
|
Tom Vandergriff |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the |
|
citizens of Arlington in mourning the loss of longtime mayor and |
|
civic icon Tom Vandergriff, who died December 30, 2010, at the |
|
age of 84; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Tom Vandergriff played a vital role in |
|
transforming Arlington from a small town to a thriving city that |
|
is home to major industry and a key destination for sports and |
|
recreation; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born January 29, 1926, in Carrollton, Mr. Vandergriff |
|
was a 1943 graduate of Arlington High School, where he was voted |
|
most likely to succeed; he went on to attend Northwestern |
|
University and Southern Methodist University before earning a |
|
degree from the University of Southern California; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Vandergriff entered public life at the young |
|
age of 23 as president of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce; he |
|
learned that General Motors was seeking to build a new assembly |
|
plant and ran for mayor to better represent Arlington's interests |
|
in acquiring this important addition to its economy; thanks to |
|
his untiring efforts, General Motors chose Arlington as the site |
|
for its new facility; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Vandergriff served as Arlington's mayor for 26 |
|
years and was active in bringing numerous recreational |
|
attractions to the city; he was instrumental in the creation of |
|
Six Flags Over Texas, and he successfully courted the Washington |
|
Senators, who relocated to Arlington and became the Texas |
|
Rangers; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, He oversaw the fund-raising campaign to build |
|
Arlington Memorial Hospital and served as chair of its board for |
|
37 years; he also worked to expand Arlington State College into |
|
the four-year institution that became The University of Texas at |
|
Arlington, and he was instrumental in the formation of the North |
|
Central Texas Council of Governments, serving as its first |
|
president and as a board member for 15 years; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Vandergriff served a term in the United States |
|
House of Representatives and later won election as a Tarrant |
|
County judge, a position he held until his retirement; his |
|
longstanding commitment to public service has served as an |
|
example to all who had the privilege of knowing him; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, He was a man of vision, strength, and untiring |
|
energy, and he gave generously to others; his dedication to his |
|
hometown and his ability to relate to people from all walks of |
|
life played an important part in creating the legacy of |
|
leadership for which he will be long remembered; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and |
|
grandfather, and his family and friends will forever cherish the |
|
treasured memories of his life and his many achievements; now, |
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
|
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
|
family and friends of Tom Vandergriff: his children, Victor |
|
Vandergriff, Vanessa Watters, Valerie Kelton, and Viveca |
|
Vandergriff; his sister, Virginia Deering; and his five |
|
grandchildren; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
|
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
|
Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
|
memory of Tom Vandergriff. |
|
|
Harris, Davis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
the Senate on February 28, 2011, |
|
|
by a rising vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |