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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Weatherford lost an admired fellow |
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citizen with the passing of former state representative and |
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longtime educator W. G. Coody on March 24, 2013, at the age of 78; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Wallis on May 8, 1934, to Amelia and James |
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Coody, "Bill" Coody graduated from Wallis High School in 1951 and |
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went on to pursue additional course work at Wharton County Junior |
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College; in 1955, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was |
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stationed for three years at England Air Force Base in Louisiana; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to civilian life, he resumed his studies |
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and attended Sam Houston State University, where he earned |
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bachelor's and master's degrees in political science; he began his |
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teaching career in Iago public schools and in 1963, he moved into |
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the field of higher education in the social sciences department of |
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Weatherford College; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1972, Mr. Coody successfully ran for a seat in the |
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state legislature; he represented District 63, which at the time |
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encompassed Parker County and a portion of Tarrant County, and he |
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was admired for his integrity and his faithful service to his |
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constituents, who returned him to office for five successive terms; |
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well-known for his ability to defuse tense situations through his |
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good humor, he forged close and lasting friendships with his |
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colleagues in Austin, and in his final session, he had the |
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distinction of being named a Texas Monthly "Ten Best" legislator; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, After more than a decade in office, Mr. Coody |
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departed from public service and eventually returned to the |
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classroom at Weatherford College; during his 15 remaining years |
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there, he was popular among students for his masterful ability to |
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bring to life all manner of historical lessons, with his classes |
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commonly the first on the roster to fill; on retiring in 2010, he |
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was granted faculty emeritus status; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan was blessed with the support of |
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a loving family, including his high school sweetheart and wife of |
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nearly six decades, Sue; the couple became the parents of three |
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children, Cathy, Sam, and Jim, and over the years, they also |
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welcomed into their family four treasured grandchildren, Claire, |
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Jacob, Ethan, and Caitlin; and |
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WHEREAS, Though it is impossible to gauge the full effect of a |
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man's life, some people leave their unmistakable mark on the world |
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as they move through it, and Bill Coody's contributions will long |
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resonate in the lives of all who knew him; now, therefore, 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 memory of the Honorable W. G. |
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"Bill" Coody and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Sue Coody; to his children, Cathy Zellers and |
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her husband, Ed, and Sam Coody and his wife, Lisa; to his |
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grandchildren, Claire Varnon and her husband, Richard, Jacob Coody, |
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Ethan Lucas Coody, and Caitlin Zellers and her fiance, Matthew |
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Cobb; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it |
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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 Bill Coody. |