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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The maritime industry and the city of Houston lost |
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an admired leader with the passing of James T. Edmonds on May 11, |
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2014, at the age of 69; and |
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WHEREAS, Appointed to the Port Commission of the Port of |
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Houston Authority in 1996, Jim Edmonds served as its chair from 2000 |
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to 2013; he recognized the importance of investing in the port's |
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future, and in the wake of 9/11, he skillfully guided the |
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modernization of security; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Edmonds worked tirelessly to promote the growth |
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of the port, which today ranks among the world's busiest and leads |
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the nation in foreign waterborne tonnage, U.S. imports, and U.S. |
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export tonnage; his tenure saw the completion of several major |
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projects, including the deepening and widening of the Houston Ship |
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Channel and the expansion of the Bayport Terminal; moreover, he |
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helped raise the port's profile by strengthening its small business |
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development program, planning a freight rail initiative, and |
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expanding environmental stewardship efforts; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to the greater community as well, |
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Mr. Edmonds devoted more than a quarter-century to the Memorial |
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Hermann Health System, offering notable direction as a member of |
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many of its boards; he chaired the Hospital System Board from 2007 |
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to 2008, and he was a member of the board and executive committee of |
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the Greater Houston Partnership; in addition, he was a trusted |
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advisor to numerous business and government leaders over the course |
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of four decades; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of James and Patricia Edmonds, Mr. Edmonds |
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was born in Wichita, Kansas, on June 10, 1944; he graduated from |
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Abilene Christian University, and early in his career, he worked as |
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executive assistant to Houston Mayor Louie Welch and as |
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administrative assistant to Governor John Connally; subsequently, |
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he became a consulting principal with KPMG-Peat Marwick, and he was |
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a founding partner in an investment banking concern before |
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establishing his own business consulting firm, Edmonds and Company; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, James Edmonds made a profound impact on Houston |
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through his decades of civic engagement and public service, and his |
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accomplishments will continue to benefit residents in the years to |
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come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James T. Edmonds and |
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extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James T. |
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Edmonds. |