85R24207 BPG-D

By: Craddick H.R. No. 1648

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The city of Midland lost a pillar of its business community with the death of Marvin Lewis Wynn, who passed away on April 12, 2017, at the age of 83; and

WHEREAS, The son of Albert Goldman Wynn and Annie Alvis Hathcock Wynn, Marvin Wynn was born in Lexington, Mississippi, on October 11, 1933; he grew up in poverty and was able to attend Mississippi Southern College for only a year before his education was interrupted by financial constraints; with a young family to support, he was determined to better himself, so he enrolled in night and weekend classes and completed his bachelor's degree in accounting at Mississippi College in 1964; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wynn began his career with the Mid-Mississippi Development District, and he was then hired as executive director of the Forrest County Development Board in Hattiesburg; after graduating with the first class of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, he earned the Certified Economic Developer designation and joined the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce as vice president of economic development; over the course of more than 13 years in this role, he was instrumental in helping the city to diversify its economy; he later spent a few years in the private sector as vice president and general manager of a real estate firm; deeply committed to the community, he assisted in the establishment of the Tulsa Industrial Authority and served as its chair and general manager; the organization provided $325 million in tax-exempt financing for over 100 companies during his 18 years on its board; and

WHEREAS, From 1987 to 1994, Mr. Wynn was chief operating officer of the Wichita/Sedgwick County Partnership for Growth in Wichita, Kansas; under his guidance, the organization received the prestigious Excellence in Economic Development Award from the Arthur D. Little Company; Mr. Wynn was then named chief executive officer of the Midland Chamber of Commerce, and he recruited many major employers; a master of planning, strategy, communications, and building personal relationships, he worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to bring many vital initiatives to fruition, among them the Midland International Airport Terminal, the visitors center, the Scharbauer Sports Complex, and the economic development sales tax; he was widely recognized as one of the country's leaders in economic development; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wynn served his profession at the state, regional, and national levels; he was president of the Southern Economic Development Council and of the Kansas Industrial Development Association, and he served on the board of the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives; in 2001, he received the TCCE Marvin Hurley Award for his contributions to his field; his numerous accolades further included life membership in the Midland Chamber of Commerce; despite his many responsibilities, he made time to serve on the board of Senior Link Midland, and he was a member of the Downtown Midland Rotary Club and the First United Methodist Church of Midland; and

WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, Mr. Wynn took great pride in his sons, Marc and Alan, and in his grandchildren, Cooper, Reece, Hannah, and Helena; he shared a fulfilling marriage of 40 years with his wife, Susan Gish Wynn, who gave him the nickname "Mr. Amazing"; he credited her with providing crucial support for his professional accomplishments, and their partnership grew even closer as he met the challenge of Parkinson's disease with characteristic courage, humor, and resolve; following his retirement in 2004, he continued to give generously of his time and expertise to the community, and he enjoyed taking trips to visit family, gathering with friends, and cheering for his Oklahoma Sooners; and

WHEREAS, Marvin Wynn made a lasting, positive difference in the lives of his fellow citizens through his exceptional achievements in economic development, and those who were fortunate enough to know him will continue to find inspiration in his wisdom, dedication, and integrity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Marvin Lewis Wynn and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; 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 Marvin Wynn.