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  H.R. No. 681
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
 
         WHEREAS, Family, friends, and newspaper readers around the
  state are mourning the death of longtime journalist and publisher
  Bert C. West of Palacios, who passed away on January 24, 2013, at
  the age of 86; and
         WHEREAS, Born in Indiana on October 28, 1926, Bert West began
  his long and distinguished career in 1947, writing for harness
  racing magazines in Indianapolis, and he took his first newspaper
  job as a sports reporter five years later; over a career that would
  span more than six decades, he engaged in every facet of the
  newspaper business, from reporter and editor to owner and
  publisher; working primarily in Texas since his move here in 1954,
  he contributed to more than 20 dailies and weeklies across the
  state; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. West worked mostly at small papers, covering the
  news in communities such as Stephenville, El Campo, Port Lavaca,
  Vernon, Bay City, San Benito, Littlefield, Pasadena, Dumas, Bogata,
  and Yoakum; in 1968, he accepted an offer from the Houston Chronicle
  to manage its bureau at the Manned Spacecraft Center, and he covered
  the first moon landing for the paper; he also acted as the space
  center correspondent for Newsday and three international news
  agencies; in 1999, he joined the staff of the Palacios Beacon,
  serving as editor for the last decade of his professional life and
  working alongside a son and grandson; and
         WHEREAS, A talented and persuasive reporter, Mr. West was the
  lead correspondent on a lengthy series in St. Louis that was
  instrumental in the city's maintaining its airport in Missouri
  rather than investing in a new facility in Illinois, and he penned a
  succession of articles that helped keep a TxDOT district office
  open in Yoakum; his coverage of the Kentucky Derby in the early
  1950s earned him a commendation from the Associated Press, and his
  colleagues in the Texas Press Association bestowed on him the
  Golden 50 Award for his years of exemplary service; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. West joined enthusiastically in the life of the
  communities where he worked; he founded youth sports programs in
  Stephenville and El Campo and started fishing tournaments in Port
  Lavaca and Palacios; he was the director of the Yoakum Hospital
  District and the president of the Calhoun County Fair; he also
  joined numerous local Jaycee, Rotary, and Optimist clubs and served
  on a number of library boards; in Palacios, he was director of the
  chamber of commerce and a member of the Centennial Committee, and he
  was elected to the city council, which he further served as mayor
  pro tem; and
         WHEREAS, Throughout his endeavors, Mr. West enjoyed the love
  and support of his wife, Betty Lou, with whom he shared 64 years,
  before she passed away in 2012; he took great pride in a treasured
  family that grew to include 8 children, 22 grandchildren, and 22
  great-grandchildren; and
         WHEREAS, This veteran, old-school journalist will be
  remembered for his longstanding commitment to informing and
  enlightening his fellow citizens and for the many contributions he
  made to the communities in which he lived; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Bert C. West and
  extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
  sons, Nick West and his wife, Mary, Pat West, and Larry West and his
  wife, Missy; to his daughters, Leidon Eames and her husband, John,
  Dodi Edinger and her husband, George, Debbie Reyna and her husband,
  Tim, and Karen Robey and her husband, Mickey; to his 22
  grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; and to his other
  relatives and many 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 Bert West.
 
  Bonnen of Brazoria
 
 
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
 
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
 
Alonzo Gooden Otto
 
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
 
Anchia Guillen Parker
 
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
 
Ashby Harless Perez
 
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
 
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
 
Bohac Herrero Pickett
 
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
 
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
 
Branch Huberty Raney
 
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
 
Burnam Hunter Raymond
 
Button Isaac Reynolds
 
Callegari Johnson Riddle
 
Canales Kacal Ritter
 
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
 
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
 
Clardy King of Parker Rose
 
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
 
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
 
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
 
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
 
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
 
Creighton Krause Simmons
 
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
 
Dale Larson Smith
 
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
 
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
 
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
 
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
 
Deshotel Longoria Strama
 
Dukes Lozano Taylor
 
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
 
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
 
Elkins Martinez Toth
 
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
 
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
 
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
 
Farrar Miles Villalba
 
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
 
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
 
Frank Moody Walle
 
Frullo Morrison White
 
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
 
Giddings Murphy Wu
 
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
 
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 681 was unanimously adopted by a rising
  vote of the House on March 5, 2013.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House