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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Fort Worth lost a celebrated architect |
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and dedicated community leader with the passing of Preston Murdoch |
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Geren, Jr., on June 12, 2013, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Fort Worth, Preston Geren was born on |
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December 16, 1923, to Preston M. Geren, Sr., and Linda Giesecke |
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Geren; he graduated from Arlington Heights High School and then |
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followed in his grandfather's, father's, and uncle's footsteps to |
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study architecture at Texas A&M University; in 1943, at the age of |
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19, he left school to join the U.S. Army and fight in World War II, |
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but his desire to serve his country was nearly thwarted when he |
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failed the vision test for new recruits; determined and |
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resourceful, he snuck back into the clinic, memorized the eye |
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chart, and easily passed the test the next day; and |
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WHEREAS, Deployed to Europe as a member of the Third Army, |
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Mr. Geren went on to earn a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and a |
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Purple Heart; he later resumed his education at Georgia Tech, where |
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he obtained a degree, but his lifelong allegiance was to the Aggies; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Geren worked for his father's firm, Preston |
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M. Geren Architect and Engineers, as a draftsman, designer, |
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engineer, and spec writer before becoming a partner in the company; |
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when his father died in 1969, Mr. Geren became the firm's sole |
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owner; he was involved in designing buildings at Texas Christian |
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University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, The |
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University of Texas at Arlington, and A&M, where he was especially |
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proud of the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center; in addition, he |
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assisted architect Louis Kahn in developing the renowned Kimbell |
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Art Museum; his firm also regularly worked with school districts to |
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design schools, and Mr. Geren enjoyed those projects immensely; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, this esteemed Texan contributed to |
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his profession as president of both the Texas Society of Architects |
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and its Fort Worth chapter and as chair of the Texas Architectural |
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Foundation; he was named a Fellow of the American Institute of |
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Architects and was recognized for his achievements with the |
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Llewelyn Pitts Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Geren retired in 1984 and subsequently turned |
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his attention full-time to giving back to his beloved hometown; he |
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was a member of the board of the Fort Worth Children's Hospital and |
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the Museum of Science and History, among other organizations, and |
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he served as president of Streams & Valleys, a nonprofit group |
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committed to the revitalization of the Trinity River; he further |
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distinguished himself through his devotion to A&M, serving on the |
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TAMU Bush Presidential Museum Committee, the Chancellor's and |
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President's Advisory Councils, the Executive Committee of the 12th |
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Man Foundation, and the Advisory Council of the College of |
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Architecture; he was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award |
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in 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Although he was known for his strong work ethic, |
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Mr. Geren took pleasure in spending leisure time with his treasured |
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family; he was the devoted husband of Colleen Geren, and he took |
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great pride in their five children and numerous grandchildren; he |
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and his wife shared nearly six decades together before her passing |
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in 2012; and |
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WHEREAS, Preston Geren inspired all who knew him through his |
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generous and purposeful life, and he leaves behind a legacy that |
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will continue to resonate for many years to come; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Preston Murdoch Geren, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to |
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the members of his family: to his children, State Representative |
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Charles L. Geren, former U.S. congressman Preston M. "Pete" Geren |
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III, Eva Geren Motheral, Chandra Edwards Geren, and Dr. Beauford T. |
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"Toby" Erwin III; to his sisters, Linda Lee Nichols and Alma |
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Caroline Key; to his 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; |
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and to his other relatives 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 Preston |
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Murdoch Geren, Jr. |