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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Donald J. Baker is retiring from the Woodway City |
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Council in May 2019, drawing to a close a notable career in public |
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service that has spanned nearly three decades; and |
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WHEREAS, A member of the council since 1991, Mr. Baker was |
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first chosen as the city's mayor by his fellow council members in |
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1994; he held the position until 2010 and again from 2011 to 2018, |
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making him the longest-serving mayor in Woodway's history; during |
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his exemplary 22-year tenure in that post, he dedicated himself to |
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preserving the city's unique character, resisting development that |
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would adversely affect its pleasant residential neighborhoods; he |
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was also instrumental in the successful effort to build the Highway |
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84 overpasses, and he has been a strong advocate for the city's |
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employees, supporting changes to compensation and benefits to help |
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retain Woodway's workforce; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Baker was born in Austin and moved to Waco as a |
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child; after graduating from Waco High School in 1958, he earned a |
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bachelor's degree in accounting and a law degree from Baylor |
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University and an additional law degree from the New York |
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University Graduate Law School; he maintained a successful legal |
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practice for many years with his partners, Thomas Hancock and Brian |
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Pollard, before retiring in 2018; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his other responsibilities, |
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Mr. Baker has further contributed to his community through his |
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support of Little League and Texas Teen-Age Baseball, the Boy |
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Scouts of America, Downtown Waco, Goodwill, and Ducks Unlimited; he |
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is also a member of the congregation at First Woodway Baptist |
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Church; in all his endeavors, he enjoys the love and support of his |
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wife, Charlie, with whom he has shared 53 years of marriage, and he |
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takes great pride in his two children and three grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Don Baker's integrity and leadership have greatly |
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benefited the citizens of Woodway and earned him the respect and |
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admiration of his fellow council members, and he may indeed reflect |
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with pride on his remarkable record of public service; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Donald J. Baker on his retirement |
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from the Woodway City Council and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Baker as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |