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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Charles F. Howard of Sugar Land, who |
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retired from the Texas House of Representatives in January 2013, |
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has rendered nearly two decades of outstanding service to his |
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constituents and to citizens across the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, First elected in 1994, Mr. Howard was returned to |
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eight succeeding legislatures by the residents of House District |
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26; he shared his expertise on a number of committees during his |
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tenure, primarily those concerned with environmental regulation |
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and land and resource management, and he chaired the local and |
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consent calendars committee in 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Fort |
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Bend County, Representative Howard backed legislation that led to |
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the establishment of a local University of Houston campus and a |
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regional park in Sugar Land, as well as the Wharton County Junior |
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College Fort Bend Technical Center in Richmond; he also partnered |
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with other public officials to secure the expansion of the |
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Southwest Freeway and to improve facilities at Sugar Land Regional |
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Airport, an important asset to the regional economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Howard and his wife, Josephine "Jo" Howard, |
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arrived in Houston from Alabama in 1970, after having both worked on |
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the NASA space program that landed the first man on the moon; an |
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electrical engineer, Mr. Howard was on the team that developed the |
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first broadband system to handle data transmissions to and from the |
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spacecraft, and Mrs. Howard was involved in creating flight |
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trajectory plans; they married after he completed his master's |
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degree in business administration at Harvard University and have |
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since enjoyed more than 40 years together; the couple have resided |
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in Sugar Land for over a quarter-century; and |
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WHEREAS, From 1973 until 1986, Mr. Howard served as executive |
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vice president and operating officer of Sugar Land Properties, |
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Inc.; during that time, he helped develop First Colony, a |
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master-planned community with a population of around 50,000; he |
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subsequently served as president of Howard/Turner Company and as |
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executive vice president of Titus Construction Company; since 1993, |
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he has owned and operated C. Howard Company, a firm specializing in |
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real estate development; and |
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WHEREAS, In his tireless commitment to advancing the |
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well-being of his community, this esteemed public servant has |
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worked with a wide range of civic organizations; he has served as |
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president of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and as a founding |
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director of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council; he has also |
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held a seat on the boards of Wharton County Junior College, Houston |
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Baptist University, and the Houston Baptist University College of |
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Business and is a former director of Fort Bend Community Hospital |
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and the Fort Bend Museum; moreover, he has found time to coach teams |
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for the Sugar Land Little League and the regional YMCA; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Howard has garnered myriad accolades for his |
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legislative service and his commitment to conservative principles; |
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along with receiving the Leadership for God, Family, and Country |
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Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, he has been honored as an |
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Outstanding Legislator by the American Family Association and as a |
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Defender of the American Dream by Americans for Prosperity; in |
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addition, the Texas Association of Business has conferred on him |
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its Fighter for Free Enterprise award; and |
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WHEREAS, Blessed with a fine family, Mr. Howard draws |
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continuing inspiration from his wife, their two children, Julie and |
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Chad, and their four grandchildren, Ashton, Keaton, Ansley, and |
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Kinsley; a man of deep faith and conviction, he has benefited the |
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congregation at Sugar Creek Baptist Church as a deacon and Sunday |
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school teacher; and |
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WHEREAS, The considerable skill, energy, and dedication that |
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Charlie Howard has brought to his legislative and civic endeavors |
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have made a profound, positive impact on the lives of his fellow |
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citizens, and the effect of his accomplishments will continue to be |
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felt for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Charlie Howard for his |
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notable contributions as a Texas state representative and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for continued success and fulfillment in |
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the years ahead; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Howard as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |