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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to the service of his state and |
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nation has drawn to a close with the death of the Honorable Leo |
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Berman of Tyler on May 23, 2015, at the age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, Leo Berman was born on October 21, 1935; the son of |
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immigrant parents from Poland and Latvia, he earned his bachelor's |
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degree in political science from Southern Methodist University and |
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then embarked upon an outstanding 22-year career in the U.S. Army; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Berman graduated first in his class at the |
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army's Field Artillery School Officer Candidate School, and he also |
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received diplomas from the army's Air Defense Artillery and Missile |
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School, Armor School, and Command and General Staff College; he |
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served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and he held appointment as an |
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army liaison to Congress for three years; he retired in 1976 at the |
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rank of lieutenant colonel; and |
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WHEREAS, This courageous soldier earned numerous military |
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awards, including three Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service |
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Medal, nine Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf |
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cluster, the National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, |
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and the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, as |
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well as the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm and the |
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Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal first class; in 2009, |
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he was promoted to colonel in the Texas State Guard, and his state |
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awards included the Texas Distinguished Service Medal, the Texas |
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Outstanding Service Medal, the Texas Medal of Merit, the Texas |
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Federal Service Medal, and the Texas State Guard Service Medal; and |
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WHEREAS, After returning to civilian life, Mr. Berman worked |
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as a public affairs executive for Sun Exploration and Production |
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Company from 1980 to 1991; he also threw himself into public |
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service, seeking and winning election to the Arlington City Council |
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in 1979 and serving six years, including two as mayor pro tem; in |
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addition, he received gubernatorial appointments to the board of |
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the Texas Army National Guard Armory and to the Texas Advisory |
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Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, which he also chaired; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Berman first won election to the Texas |
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Legislature in 1998, and he served seven terms, until 2013; during |
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his exemplary 14-year tenure as the state representative from |
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District 6, he chaired the Committee on Elections and the Committee |
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on Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Subcommittee on |
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Budget and Oversight and served as vice chair of the Committee on |
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House Administration; his other committee assignments included |
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Appropriations, Higher Education, and Government Reform; |
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Mr. Berman's accomplishments included helping The University of |
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Texas at Tyler start a nursing program; he was especially attentive |
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to the concerns of his individual constituents, and he took pride in |
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the fact that he answered every phone call, e-mail, and letter |
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personally; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of strong Christian faith, Leo Berman attended |
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Christ Episcopal Church in Tyler, where he was a leading lay member; |
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he also gave generously of his time and talents as a member of the |
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executive committee of the East Texas Area Council of the Boy Scouts |
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of America and as a board member of the Bethesda Health Clinic in |
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Tyler, East Texas Meals on Wheels, Texas College, and the Arc of |
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Smith County, which named him board member emeritus; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Berman's first wife, Cara Sue Hughey Berman, |
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predeceased him, and later in life, he was fortunate to find love |
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again with his second wife, Dr. Lou Ann Berman; he was the father of |
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five children, and he was blessed with seven grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and a dedicated public servant, |
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Leo Berman fought passionately for the ideals and principles in |
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which he believed, and the legacy he leaves behind will continue to |
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inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of Leo Berman and extend sincere |
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condolences to his wife, Dr. Lou Ann Berman, to his children, |
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grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and to his other relatives |
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and 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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the Honorable Leo Berman. |