By: Craddick H.C.R. No. 4
 
 
 
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, The Honorable Walter David Counts Jr. of Knox City,
  a former state representative and brevet brigadier general in the
  Texas Army National Guard, passed away on August 18, 2023, at the
  age of 87; and
         WHEREAS, Born in Munday on July 14, 1936, David Counts was the
  son of Walter and Alma Counts; he grew up in Rule and attended West
  Texas State College and North Texas State College; in 1953, he
  joined the Texas Army National Guard, and over the course of 32
  years in the military, he attained the rank of colonel;
  then-governor George W. Bush promoted him to brevet brigadier
  general following his retirement; among other honors, he received
  the General K. L. Bailey Award for heroism and the Minute Man Award
  for outstanding service; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Counts wed the love of his life, the former Mary
  Mullins, on July 15, 1956; they became the proud parents of two
  children, Patti and David, and through the years, their family grew
  to include four grandchildren, Seth, Jennifer, Sarah, and Matthew,
  as well as eight great-grandchildren; and
         WHEREAS, Settling in Knox City, Mr. Counts established Counts
  Insurance Agency in 1960; he operated the business for 35 years, and
  he also founded Counts Real Estate; in addition, he owned a
  bookkeeping and tax service for a decade and grew wheat and cotton
  in Knox, Stonewall, and Haskell Counties; he served as vice
  president and director of Rolling Plains Well Service, as president
  and chair of Chap Operating Company, as director and treasurer of
  Perry Pump Service, and as a director of both First Bank of West
  Texas and Western Bancshares; moreover, he was a member of the board
  of the Texas Association of Realtors; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Counts was first elected to the Texas House of
  Representatives in 1988, and for the next 15 years, he worked
  tirelessly in behalf of his constituents, who resided primarily in
  the North Central Plains region; he chaired the Natural Resources
  Committee for a decade, co-chaired the Water Resources Committee,
  and served on many other committees, including the Insurance,
  Redistricting, and State Affairs Committees; he authored a
  constitutional amendment to exempt Masonic lodges from ad valorem
  taxes; and
         WHEREAS, A member of the Masons for more than six decades, Mr.
  Counts was raised to the degree of Master Mason in 1961, and he
  served three separate terms as Worshipful Master; he began his
  association with the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1971 and rose to become
  Most Worshipful Grand Master, the highest office in Texas Masonry,
  in 2008; he gave generously of his time and talents to a host of
  Masonic groups, and he served as treasurer of Masonic Children &
  Family Services of Texas and as a trustee of Scottish Rite for
  Children; the recipient of numerous honors, he was inducted into
  the Masonic Grand Lodge Library and Museum of Texas Sam Houston Hall
  of Fame and served as a patron of the library and museum; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Counts also contributed to the greater community
  through his longtime service as a director of the Knox City Chamber
  of Commerce and as a member of the Knox City Lions Club; he
  benefited higher education as a member of several boards, including
  the development board of Hardin-Simmons University; he was a valued
  congregant of First Baptist Church of Knox City and gave generously
  of his time and resources to Gideons International; and
         WHEREAS, David Counts lived a life that was rich in public
  service and in personal and professional achievements, and his
  contributions will be remembered and admired for years to come;
  now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas,
  4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Walter David
  Counts Jr. and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
  family: to his wife, Mary Counts; to his children, Patti Counts
  Holmes and her husband, Steve, and David Counts III and his wife,
  Jill; to his grandchildren, Seth Barnett and his wife, Jenni,
  Jennifer McCann and her husband, Josh, Sarah Grace and her husband,
  Jacob, and Matthew Counts and his wife, Allie; to his eight
  great-grandchildren; to his sister, Cheryl Robinson, and her
  husband, Bobby; and to his many other relatives and friends; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
  David Counts.