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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Texas lost an admired public servant |
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with the passing of former state representative John Clifford Otto |
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on August 1, 2020, at the age of 71; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to John and Susan Otto in Dayton on October 14, |
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1948, John Otto grew up with two brothers, Calvin and Glenn, and two |
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sisters, Susan and Danita; while completing his bachelor's degree |
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in accounting at Texas A&M University, he rose to become head drum |
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major of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band; he was commissioned as a |
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second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served on active and reserve |
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duty for eight years; his career as a certified public accountant |
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included a five-year tenure with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell, and |
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Company in Houston and 35 years as the owner of a successful CPA |
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practice in Dayton; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Otto served his community in many roles, |
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including as a trustee of the Dayton Independent School District |
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and as a member of the Dayton City Council; in 2004, he won election |
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to the Texas House of Representatives and quickly made his mark; he |
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was named Rookie of the Year by Texas Monthly and received similar |
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recognition from his peers; over the course of six terms in office, |
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he was appointed to numerous committees; his financial acumen made |
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him particularly effective as chair of the House Appropriations |
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Committee and the Select Committees on Fiscal Stability and |
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Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, as well as vice chair of |
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the Ways and Means Committee and member of the Legislative Audit |
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Committee; in addition, he served on the Legislative Budget Board; |
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among myriad accolades, he received a Fighter for Free Enterprise |
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Award from the Texas Association of Business, and he was selected |
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for the Legislative Honor Roll by the Texas PTA; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2017, Mr. Otto accepted his dream job as |
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assistant vice chancellor and director of local government |
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relations for The Texas A&M University System; the position allowed |
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him to champion the interests of his beloved alma mater while |
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continuing to work with his colleagues in the legislature; in July |
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2020, in order to acknowledge his ardent support of the Aggie Band, |
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the system chancellor organized a virtual ceremony with family, |
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friends, and fellow Aggie legislators to announce the naming of the |
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drum major's baton in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Otto married his high school sweetheart, the |
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former Nancy Whitman, in December 1969; while helping to raise |
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their two sons, Bryan and Jason, he enthusiastically cheered them |
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on in sports and ensured they were properly initiated into Aggie |
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football fandom; he later had the pleasure of seeing the family grow |
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to include six grandchildren, Brendon, Maddie, Hadley, Bailee, |
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Emilee, and Malloree; before moving to Bryan-College Station, the |
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Ottos sang in the choir at First United Methodist Church in Dayton, |
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where Mr. Otto served as treasurer for more than a quarter century; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Although John Otto is deeply missed by those he left |
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behind, his life stands as an outstanding example of civic |
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engagement, and his contributions will be remembered and admired in |
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the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable John Clifford Otto |
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and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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John Otto. |