| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Donald J. Baker is retiring from the Woodway City |
|
|
Council in May 2019, drawing to a close a notable career in public |
|
|
service that has spanned nearly three decades; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A member of the council since 1991, Mr. Baker was |
|
|
first chosen as the city's mayor by his fellow council members in |
|
|
1994; he held the position until 2010 and again from 2011 to 2018, |
|
|
making him the longest-serving mayor in Woodway's history; during |
|
|
his exemplary 22-year tenure in that post, he dedicated himself to |
|
|
preserving the city's unique character, resisting development that |
|
|
would adversely affect its pleasant residential neighborhoods; he |
|
|
was also instrumental in the successful effort to build the Highway |
|
|
84 overpasses, and he has been a strong advocate for the city's |
|
|
employees, supporting changes to compensation and benefits to help |
|
|
retain Woodway's workforce; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Baker was born in Austin and moved to Waco as a |
|
|
child; after graduating from Waco High School in 1958, he earned a |
|
|
bachelor's degree in accounting and a law degree from Baylor |
|
|
University and an additional law degree from the New York |
|
|
University Graduate Law School; he maintained a successful legal |
|
|
practice for many years with his partners, Thomas Hancock and Brian |
|
|
Pollard, before retiring in 2018; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In addition to his other responsibilities, |
|
|
Mr. Baker has further contributed to his community through his |
|
|
support of Little League and Texas Teen-Age Baseball, the Boy |
|
|
Scouts of America, Downtown Waco, Goodwill, and Ducks Unlimited; he |
|
|
is also a member of the congregation at First Woodway Baptist |
|
|
Church; in all his endeavors, he enjoys the love and support of his |
|
|
wife, Charlie, with whom he has shared 53 years of marriage, and he |
|
|
takes great pride in his two children and three grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Don Baker's integrity and leadership have greatly |
|
|
benefited the citizens of Woodway and earned him the respect and |
|
|
admiration of his fellow council members, and he may indeed reflect |
|
|
with pride on his remarkable record of public service; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Donald J. Baker on his retirement |
|
|
from the Woodway City Council and extend to him sincere best wishes |
|
|
for continued happiness; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Mr. Baker as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Anderson |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1739 was adopted by the House on May |
|
|
24, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |