H.R. No. 2035
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The untimely death of Jefferson Jones Baskin of
  Austin on March 25, 2015, at the age of 48, has brought a great loss
  to the family and friends of this esteemed Texan; and
         WHEREAS, Born to Pat and Joan Baskin in Midland on June 21,
  1966, JJ Baskin completed his bachelor's degree in political
  science at Trinity University; he went on to earn a master's degree
  from the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs at The
  University of Texas at Austin; after starting his career in the
  office of Texas State Comptroller Bob Bullock, he was hired as one
  of the first employees in the successful attorney general campaign
  of Dan Morales; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Baskin was primarily a Democrat, but he worked
  in behalf of political campaigns for public servants in either
  party who represented his values, and particularly his support for
  education; he was a director of the nonpartisan organizations
  Public Agenda and Texas Lyceum, and in 2013, he co-chaired the
  latter's first-ever conference dedicated to philanthropy; one of
  the state's leading experts on philanthropy, he lectured at dozens
  of conferences and professional events across the state and nation;
  he also served as an executive-on-loan to San Antonio Mayor Julian
  Castro's SA2020 for philanthropy as well as for education; and
         WHEREAS, Deeply committed to education, Mr. Baskin was
  employed for five years at the Southwest Educational Development
  Laboratory; he was copresident of the PTA at Mathews Elementary
  School, and he was president of the Austin Public Library
  Foundation; through both the Austin Community Foundation and his
  personal nonprofit organization, Education Capital, he led the
  annual report and survey efforts for the Texas Education Foundation
  Network; he was a Trinity University Associate and a member of the
  Texas Exes Public Affairs Committee and the Coalition for
  Excellence in Higher Education; in 2011, the Texas Ex-Student
  Association named him the recipient of its prestigious Top Hand
  Award; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Baskin was sustained by a strong faith; he was a
  lifelong Presbyterian and an elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church
  of Austin, where he served as clerk of the session; for many years,
  he was a trustee of Mo Ranch, a Presbyterian retreat center, and he
  chaired its strategic planning committee; and
         WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Mr. Baskin shared a fulfilling
  relationship with his wife, Joy, and he took great pride in his
  sons, Ben and Judge; his warmth, wit, and kindness brought him a
  host of friends, and he found great satisfaction in helping to
  connect like-minded people; when he was diagnosed with cancer in
  2014, his large circle of admirers established JJ's Fight Club to
  rally him in his valiant battle against the disease, and the group
  now has members in all 50 states and well over a dozen countries;
  and
         WHEREAS, Though it is impossible to gauge the full effect of
  one person's life, some individuals leave their unmistakable mark
  on the world as they move through it, and the selfless contributions
  of JJ Baskin will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough
  to know him; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jefferson Jones
  "JJ" Baskin and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
  family: to his wife, Joy Surratt Baskin; to his sons, Ben Baskin and
  Judge Baskin; to his mother, Joan Ragsdale Baskin; to his sister,
  Becky Baskin Ferguson, and her husband, Doug; to his brothers, Bo
  Baskin and Steve Ragsdale Baskin and his wife, Susie; and to his
  many 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 Jefferson
  Jones Baskin.
 
  Craddick
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 2035 was unanimously adopted by a
  rising vote of the House on May 21, 2015.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House