83R7394 STE-D

By: Bonnen of Brazoria 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.