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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Travis County lost a trailblazing public servant |
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with the death of former county commissioner Ronald Knowlton Davis |
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on February 2, 2021, at the age of 75; and |
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WHEREAS, A fourth-generation Austinite, Ron Davis was born to |
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Valena A. Davis Simmons on May 10, 1945; he earned his bachelor's |
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degree in political science from Huston-Tillotson University and, |
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while working as a computer analyst for the U.S. Department of |
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Veterans Affairs, completed his master's degree in public |
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administration at Texas State University; in 1983, he founded the |
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East Austin Strategy Team, which successfully fought to shut down a |
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52-acre gasoline storage site that was polluting a residential |
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community of color; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Davis also helped secure over $9 million to |
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resolve flooding problems in neglected East Austin, and he was |
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instrumental in the creation of the Austin Community College |
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Eastview Campus; joining forces with environmentalists across the |
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county, he vigorously supported Austin's Save Our Springs Ordinance |
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and went door to door to explain to his neighbors how development in |
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Southwest Austin affected them; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1998, Mr. Davis won election to the county |
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commission, and for the next 18 years, he worked tirelessly to |
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ensure Precinct 1 received its fair share of public resources for |
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economic development, social services, and infrastructure, |
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including more than $158 million for roads and bridges; he |
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championed a referendum to fund construction by a nonprofit |
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corporation of a 53-mile pipeline for a high-quality supply of |
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drinking water to eastern Travis County; further promoting |
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environmental justice, he offered strong opposition to the |
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expansion of landfills and mining operations in sensitive areas, |
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and he was involved in writing rules requiring buffer areas around |
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solid waste facilities near schools, churches, residential areas, |
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and water wells; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognizing urgent need in the county's Eastern |
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Crescent, Mr. Davis secured affordable housing options and |
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spearheaded an initiative to build a shelter for homeless women and |
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children, which is now operated by the Salvation Army; he advocated |
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powerfully for an amendment to county code that expanded emergency |
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assistance program eligibility criteria for the elderly and people |
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with disabilities; moreover, he took a leading role in both the |
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establishment of Travis County health clinics and the creation of |
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the first regional mobility authority for Central Texas; his |
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concern for the unemployed and underemployed guided his engagement |
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in economic development programs, such as incentives to attract new |
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businesses; and |
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WHEREAS, Among many accolades, Mr. Davis received the 1992 |
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DeWitty/Overton Award for public service from the NAACP, and he was |
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named a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas State; and |
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WHEREAS, His dedication to the community was surpassed only |
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by his devotion to his family; Mr. Davis shared a fulfilling |
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marriage of 53 years with his wife, Annie Delois Davis, and he took |
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great pride in their three children, Ron, Cedric, and Shaunda, and |
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six grandchildren, Arnell, Ryon, Aaron, Cameron, Chanecia, and |
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Cedric; sustained by a strong faith, he was a longtime member of |
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Mount Olive Baptist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his unyielding efforts, Ron Davis made a |
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positive difference in the lives of countless Travis County |
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residents, and although he will be deeply missed, his exceptional |
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contributions will continue to resonate in the years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable |
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Ronald Knowlton Davis and extend sincere condolences to all who |
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mourn his passing; 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ron Davis. |
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Cole |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 148 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 10, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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