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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas joins all Americans in mourning |
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the loss of a determined advocate for stronger democracy and social |
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justice, Robert W. Edgar, who passed away on April 23, 2013, at the |
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age of 69; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia on May 29, 1943, Bob Edgar felt |
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the calling to become a minister at age 16, and he went on to earn an |
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undergraduate degree from Lycoming College and a master's degree in |
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divinity from the Drew Theological School; after being ordained, he |
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was the protestant chaplain at Drexel University and served as a |
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pastor at the United Methodist Church in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, |
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before running for Congress in 1974; and |
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WHEREAS, While serving the people of Pennsylvania in the |
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United States Congress for six terms, Mr. Edgar campaigned to curb |
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wasteful spending and increase the transparency of the government; |
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a defender of men and women serving in the military, he worked for |
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measures to provide benefits for Vietnam veterans and readjustment |
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counseling to treat posttraumatic stress disorder; and |
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WHEREAS, After leaving Congress, Mr. Edgar served as |
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president of the Claremont School of Theology in California, and in |
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2000, he was named general secretary of the National Council of |
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Churches; under Mr. Edgar's leadership, the NCC, a collection of |
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more than 100,000 local congregations and 45 million congregants, |
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embarked on a 10-year effort to defeat poverty; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Edgar became president and chief |
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executive officer of Common Cause, a nonpartisan organization |
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advocating for an open government; during his tenure, he guided the |
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organization as it lobbied for campaign finance regulations and |
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filibuster reform; and |
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WHEREAS, Bob Edgar was a compassionate leader whose moral |
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compass informed his public service, and the legacy that he leaves |
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behind will continue to inspire all who know of him; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Robert W. Edgar and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of |
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48 years, the former Merle Louise Deaver; to his sons, Robert, |
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T. David, and Andrew; to his mother, Marion Edgar; to his brothers, |
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Ralph and Richard; to his eight grandchildren; and to his other |
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relatives and many 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 Bob Edgar. |