H.R. No. 1555

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The residents of Abilene lost an admired champion of
	higher education and friend to all with the passing of former state
	representative Dr. Robert D. Hunter on February 11, 2023, at the
	age of 94; and
	WHEREAS, The son of Grover Cleveland Hunter and Grace May
	Grubb Hunter, Bob Hunter was born in Dodge City, Kansas, on June 25,
	1928; he grew up with 11 siblings, and after moving to California,
	he graduated from high school in San Mateo; he relocated to Texas to
	enroll at Abilene Christian College, beginning a lifelong
	affiliation with the institution that would later become Abilene
	Christian University; a leader in campus life during his
	undergraduate years, he sang in the A Cappella Chorus and Men's
	Quartet and served as president of several organizations; he was
	also vice president of the Student Association and a statewide
	officer in the Texas Intercollegiate Student Association; after
	completing his bachelor's degree in business, he served in the U.S.
	Navy during the Korean War, both in the Far East and with the
	National Security Agency in Washington, D.C.; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Hunter returned to his beloved college alma
	mater as director of special events, and in 1957, he was named its
	first director of alumni relations; later, as assistant to the
	president, he directed the 10-year Design for Development that led
	to the construction of many new buildings; he eventually rose to
	become senior vice president, a role that encompassed government
	relations, before his retirement in 1993; committed to enriching
	the student and alumni experience, he originated more than two
	dozen ACU traditions, including Freshman Follies, the Parade of
	Flags at Opening Assembly, the President's Circle Dinner, the
	annual alumni awards program, Sing Song, and the Homecoming
	Musical; he was known for his warm smile and trademark greeting,
	"Hello, friend," and his tremendous enthusiasm and congeniality
	helped define the ACU spirit; and
	WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Dr. Hunter also served the wider
	community during a term on the Abilene City Council; from 1970 to
	1980, he was executive vice president of the Independent Colleges
	and Universities of Texas, and he galvanized support for the
	legislation creating the Tuition Equalization Grant program; since
	its establishment, students at private institutions in the state
	have received Tuition Equalization Grants totaling more than
	$2.6 billion; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Hunter became the first Taylor County
	Republican to win a seat in the Texas House of Representatives when
	he was elected in 1986, and he was returned to office in the next 10
	elections; working tirelessly in behalf of his constituents and
	higher education in general, he missed just a single roll-call vote
	over the course of two decades, when his doctors refused his pleas
	to release him while he was being evaluated for a possible heart
	attack; for a decade, he chaired the Committee on State, Federal and
	International Relations, and he later led the House Research
	Organization; and
	WHEREAS, In 1990, Representative Hunter championed
	legislation to enable Cisco College to build a campus in Abilene;
	when the bill faced a potential veto from Governor William
	P. Clements, who was displeased with a previous vote by the
	representative, Dr. Hunter selflessly removed his name from the
	legislation, and the measure became law; the next year, he was
	appointed chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee on Budget and
	Oversight, bringing to that role his deep expertise in the state's
	dual system of higher education; in addition, he was vice chair for
	the Committee on Regulated Industries and co-chair of the Special
	House Select Committee on NAFTA and GATT international trade
	agreements; no matter how stressful the situation, he lived up to
	his nickname, "Smilin' Bob," and he brightened the days and earned
	the affection of countless people in the Capitol community; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Hunter further benefited Abilene as a member of
	the boards and advisory boards of numerous organizations, among
	them the Classical Chorus of Abilene, Meals on Wheels, the West
	Texas Rehabilitation Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and the
	Abilene/Taylor County Child Advocacy Center; moreover, he was a
	lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion and, for over a
	half century, he was an active member of University Church of
	Christ; and
	WHEREAS, The recipient of myriad accolades, Dr. Hunter was
	awarded honorary doctorates by ACU, Texas Wesleyan University, the
	University of St. Thomas, Austin College, Hardin-Simmons
	University, McMurry University, and Pepperdine University in
	California; in February 2006, ACU named its Robert D. and Shirley
	Hunter Welcome Center in honor of Dr. Hunter and his wife; the
	couple married on May 27, 1954, and they were blessed with three
	children, Kent, Carole, and Les, as well as numerous grandchildren
	and great-grandchildren; Mrs. Hunter passed away in 2021; and
	WHEREAS, The loss of Bob Hunter is keenly felt by the
	multitude of friends that he made and the many people whose lives he
	forever enriched, but his enormous contributions will continue to
	resonate in the years to come, and he will forever hold a special
	place in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him;
	now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
	Dr. Robert D. Hunter and extend sincere condolences to the members
	of his family: to his children and their spouses, Kent Hunter and
	Jonathan Blumberg, Carole Phillips and her husband, Danny, and Les
	Hunter; to his grandchildren and their spouses, Landon and Jennifer
	Phillips, Chad and Aundrea Phillips, Mitchell and Emily Danesi,
	Dino Hunter, and Lyra Hunter; to his great-grandchildren, Crawford
	Danesi, Henley Danesi, Beckham Phillips, and Kenzo Phillips; and to
	his 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Bob
	Hunter.
	Lambert
	Phelan Guerra Murr
	Allen Guillen Neave Criado
	Allison Harless Noble
	Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
	Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
	Ashby Harrison Orr
	Bailes Hayes Ortega
	Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
	Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
	Bernal Herrero Perez
	Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
	Bonnen Holland Price
	Bowers Howard Ramos
	Bryant Hull Raney
	Buckley Hunter Raymond
	Bucy Isaac Reynolds
	Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
	Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
	Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
	Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
	Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
	Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
	Canales Kacal Schofield
	Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
	Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
	Cole Kitzman Shine
	Collier Klick Slawson
	Cook Kuempel Smith
	Cortez Lalani Smithee
	Craddick Lambert Spiller
	Cunningham Landgraf Stucky
	Darby Leach Swanson
	Davis Leo-Wilson Talarico
	Dean Longoria Tepper
	DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Thierry
	Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thimesch
	Dutton Lozano Thompson of Brazoria
	Flores Lujan Thompson of Harris
	Frank Manuel Tinderholt
	Frazier Martinez Toth
	Gamez Martinez Fischer Troxclair
	Garcia Metcalf Turner
	Gates Meyer VanDeaver
	Gerdes Meza Vasut
	Geren Moody Vo
	Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Walle
	Goldman Morales of Maverick Wilson
	González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wu
	González of El Paso Morrison Zwiener
	Goodwin Muñoz, Jr.
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 1555 was unanimously adopted by a rising
	vote of the House on May 16, 2023.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House