| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost a respected educator with |
|
|
the death of former Irving Independent School District |
|
|
superintendent Dr. John F. Townley, who passed away on December 31, |
|
|
2014, at the age of 87; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born in Paducah on February 9, 1927, to John and |
|
|
Martha Townley, John Townley answered his nation's call to duty |
|
|
with his service in the U.S. Army; he was a graduate of Weatherford |
|
|
Junior College, Texas Wesleyan University, and The University of |
|
|
Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Townley began his career in education in 1952 in |
|
|
the Everman Independent School District, where he served as a |
|
|
teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent; he later led the |
|
|
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo and Taylor school districts before joining the |
|
|
Irving ISD as superintendent of schools in 1970; over the course of |
|
|
his exemplary 15-year tenure in that post, as in every previous |
|
|
position he had held, he displayed a rare dedication to his students |
|
|
and earned the admiration and respect of his peers; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Following his retirement, this esteemed |
|
|
administrator continued to give back to his community as a |
|
|
volunteer and advocate for Irving schools; he was recognized for |
|
|
his many contributions to the district with the naming of John |
|
|
F. Townley Elementary School in his honor; in addition, the Everman |
|
|
ISD honored Dr. Townley and his wife, Polly, with the dedication of |
|
|
John and Polly Townley Elementary; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, John and Polly Townley shared many years of |
|
|
rewarding marriage, enriched by their mutual love of their work and |
|
|
by their devotion to all the students they helped to guide over the |
|
|
years; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Townley was a valued member of Oak View Baptist |
|
|
Church, and in his leisure time, he enjoyed quail hunting and |
|
|
playing golf as a member of Las Colinas Country Club; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his profession and his community, |
|
|
Dr. Townley made a positive difference in the lives of countless |
|
|
Texans, and he leaves behind a legacy that will resonate for years |
|
|
to come; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. John F. Townley |
|
|
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
|
|
wife, Eula "Polly" Townley; to his sisters, Effie Leek and Margaret |
|
|
McGlaun; to his nieces, Phyllis Foreman and Patsy Perry; to his |
|
|
nephew, Tommy Leek; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be |
|
|
it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. John |
|
|
F. Townley. |
| |
|
|
Anderson of Dallas |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1189 was unanimously adopted by a |
|
|
rising vote of the House on March 26, 2015. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |