H.R. No. 178

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS
	, Nacogdoches lost one of its most admired civic
	leaders with the passing of former mayor James E. Raney on June 21,
	2014, at the age of 74; and
	WHEREAS, The son of James Nathan Raney and Maurine Key Raney,
	James Raney was born in Madisonville on February 25, 1940; the
	family relocated to Huntsville in 1950, and he graduated from
	Huntsville High School; after completing his bachelor's degree, he
	served his country in the United States Army and Army Reserve for
	six years, attaining the rank of first lieutenant; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Raney married his childhood sweetheart, the
	former Sandra Hill, on January 27, 1962, and they became the proud
	parents of two daughters, Penny and Julie; in 1966, the couple moved
	to Nacogdoches, where they opened the Varsity Book Store, an
	enterprise they continued to run for nearly four decades; Mr. Raney
	was an especially kind and caring employer, and he was a mentor and
	role model to many young people; following the death of his wife in
	2009, he was fortunate enough to find love again with the former
	Vida Lynne Kowalski, and they wed on June 23, 2012; and
	WHEREAS, Deeply committed to his community, Mr. Raney
	devoted much of his life to public service; he was a trustee of the
	Nacogdoches Independent School District for nine years and served
	as its president, and during a decadelong tenure on the city
	commission, he served for two years as mayor; moreover, he was a
	member of the Criminal Justice Task Force Commission, and Governor
	Bill Clements also appointed him twice as chair of the Deep East
	Texas Council of Governments Regional Review Committee; he was
	later named to the board of the Angelina and Neches River Authority
	by Governor Rick Perry; and
	WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan gave freely of his time and
	talents as master of Milam Lodge No. 2, as a member of all York Rite
	Bodies, as a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, and as a Shriner; in
	addition, he belonged to Safari Club International, and he was a
	life member of both the Texas State Rifle Association and the
	National Rifle Association; he was on the board of the Nacogdoches
	Rotary Club, and he served as president of the Nacogdoches Booster
	Club; moreover, he was a member of the Sons of the Republic of
	Texas; a faithful Episcopalian, he was a senior warden at Christ
	Church, where he served on the Vestry; and
	WHEREAS, Setting an inspiring example of warmth, compassion,
	and integrity, James Raney was a true gentleman, and he
	demonstrated good will and generosity toward all; his legacy of
	service will continue to resonate in his hometown and beyond, and
	those who were fortunate enough to know him will forever remember
	the tremendous positive influence he had on their lives; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of James E. Raney and
	extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
	wife, Vida Lynne Kowalski Raney; to his daughters, Penny Raney and
	Julie Raney Williams and her husband, Kirby; to his grandchildren,
	Kate, Claire, and Dray Schmidt and Sam, Avery, and Zoe Williams; to
	his brother, State Representative John N. Raney, and his wife,
	Elizabeth; to his sisters, Theda Raney Flournoy and Eileen Thrash
	and her husband, John; and to his other relatives and many friends;
	and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House
	of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James E.
	Raney.
	Clardy
	Straus Guerra Otto
	Allen Guillen Paddie
	Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
	Alvarado Harless Paul
	Anchia Hernandez Peña
	Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
	Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
	Ashby Huberty Pickett
	Aycock Hughes Price
	Bell Hunter Raney
	Blanco Isaac Raymond
	Bohac Israel Reynolds
	Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
	Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
	Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
	Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
	Button King of Parker Rose
	Canales King of Taylor Sanford
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
	Clardy Klick Schofield
	Coleman Koop Shaheen
	Collier Krause Sheets
	Cook Kuempel Sheffield
	Craddick Landgraf Simmons
	Crownover Larson Simpson
	Dale Laubenberg Smith
	Darby Leach Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
	Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
	Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
	Dukes Márquez Stickland
	Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
	Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
	Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
	Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
	Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
	Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles VanDeaver
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White of Bell
	Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
	Geren Murphy Workman
	Giddings Murr Wray
	Goldman Naishtat Wu
	Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
	González Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 178 was unanimously adopted by a rising
	vote of the House on February 19, 2015.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House