SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 372
 
 
  In Memory
  of
  Robert Landis Armstrong
 
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins Texans
  across the state in mourning the loss of Robert Landis Armstrong,
  who died March 1, 2015, at the age of 82; and
 
         WHEREAS, Bob Armstrong served the citizens of Texas with
  distinction over the course of a decades-long career in public
  service, during which he played an essential role in dramatically
  increasing the revenues of the Permanent School Fund and the
  Permanent University Fund and in doubling the size of the state's
  park system; and
 
         WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was born and raised in Austin; he
  earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from The University
  of Texas, and from 1953 to 1955, he served the nation as an
  officer in the United States Navy; and
 
         WHEREAS, He began his career by serving as a member of the
  Texas House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970; he was one of
  the first legislators in the state to focus on environmental
  issues and played a significant role in the creation of the
  Interagency Council on Natural Resources, the Texas Parks
  Advisory Committee, and the Texas Conservation Foundation; and
 
         WHEREAS, During his tenure in the legislature, he also
  helped establish the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, and
  he carried the constitutional amendment allowing for the
  investment of the Permanent University Fund in stocks, which
  enhanced the university's ability to invest wisely and increase
  its revenue; and
 
         WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was elected land commissioner in
  1970; as land commissioner, he managed the state's 22.5 million
  acres of public land and its mineral ownership, and he served in
  that capacity until 1982; under his leadership, the state put the
  management of public lands in an environmental context and
  continued to hold regular, successful lease sales despite the
  controversies that arose between environmentalists and oil and
  gas producers; and
 
         WHEREAS, He continued to support and promote education
  during his tenure as land commissioner by raising the oil and gas
  royalties on state lands, which allowed the Permanent School Fund
  to more than triple its assets and the Permanent University Fund
  to experience dramatic growth; and
 
         WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was appointed to the Parks and
  Wildlife Commission in 1985; while serving on the commission, he
  was able to help fulfill his longtime goal of purchasing land for
  the 212,000-acre Big Bend State Park, which doubled the size of
  the state's park acreage; he went on to serve as natural
  resources and energy advisor to Governor Ann Richards and as
  assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management in the
  United States Department of the Interior; and
 
         WHEREAS, He received numerous honors over the course of his
  distinguished career, including the Texas Nature Conservancy's
  Lifetime Achievement Award, the Field and Stream Conservation
  Award, and the Chevron Conservation Award; he was the founder of
  the Austin Chapter of the Sierra Club and a founding board member
  of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation; and
 
         WHEREAS, Bob Armstrong was a man of courage, determination,
  and vision who served the state and nation with distinction, and
  his leadership and countless accomplishments will not be
  forgotten; and
 
         WHEREAS, He was devoted to his wife, Linda Aaker and to his
  four children and two grandchildren, and he leaves behind memories
  that will be treasured forever by all who were privileged to
  share in his life; now, therefore, be it
 
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
  Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
  family of Robert Landis Armstrong; and, be it further
 
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
  Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
  memory of Robert Landis Armstrong.
 
  Watson
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on March 16, 2015, by a
    rising vote.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate