| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, A life of professional achievement and dedicated |
|
|
public service drew to a close with the passing of former state |
|
|
representative Jack Harvey Harris on March 13, 2017, at the age of |
|
|
85; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The son of Frank and Marguerite Curry Harris, Jack |
|
|
Harris was born in Houston on December 12, 1931; he enlisted in the |
|
|
United States Air Force in 1953 and proudly served his country for |
|
|
eight years, rising to the rank of captain; during and after his |
|
|
career in the military, he attended a number of different colleges, |
|
|
including Texas A&M University, and he went on to complete |
|
|
bachelor's and master's degrees and a doctoral degree in dental |
|
|
surgery; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Harris built a successful private practice of |
|
|
dentistry and periodontics, which he operated from 1961 to 1991; he |
|
|
also shared his expertise as an assistant and associate professor |
|
|
of periodontics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at |
|
|
Houston and as a member of the advisory board of the Health Law & |
|
|
Policy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center; a leader |
|
|
in his profession, he served as president of both the Texas and |
|
|
American Dental Associations, and he held membership in the Houston |
|
|
District Dental Society and other groups; recognized with myriad |
|
|
honors throughout his career, he published widely in local, state, |
|
|
and national dental journals and delivered presentations at |
|
|
conferences and universities around the world; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan decided to take on a more |
|
|
prominent role in shaping public policy, and his election as a |
|
|
legislator precipitated a 12-year tenure in the statehouse; from |
|
|
1985 to 1997, he worked diligently to advance the interests of his |
|
|
constituents in Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties, and he lent his |
|
|
insight to the deliberations of committees on public health, |
|
|
natural resources, environmental affairs, higher education, and |
|
|
many other key issues; he remained active in civic life after |
|
|
leaving office, serving as a Brazoria County commissioner from 1997 |
|
|
to 2008; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Admired for his devotion to his family, Dr. Harris |
|
|
had a rewarding marriage with his loving wife, Mary Ellen, that |
|
|
spanned more than six decades, and he was immensely proud of their |
|
|
son, Rick; through the years, he was further blessed with two |
|
|
grandchildren, Ryan and Kathryn, as well as a treasured |
|
|
great-granddaughter, Avery; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Jack Harvey Harris was a man of considerable gifts |
|
|
and accomplishments whose life's work left an indelible mark on his |
|
|
profession and community, and he leaves behind a record of service |
|
|
that will continue to inspire all those who had the good fortune to |
|
|
know him; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Jack |
|
|
Harvey Harris and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
|
|
family: to his wife, Mary Ellen Harris; to his son, Rick Harris and |
|
|
his wife, Susan; to his grandchildren, Ryan Harris and his wife, |
|
|
Stephanie, and Kathryn Harris Jones and her husband, Dustin; to his |
|
|
great-granddaughter, Avery Madison Jones; to his sisters, Jean |
|
|
Pulleyn and Jane Shephard and her husband, David; 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 the |
|
|
Honorable Jack Harvey Harris. |