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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Gus Franklin Mutscher, a celebrated |
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Texan and esteemed former Speaker of the Texas House of |
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Representatives, who died February 26, 2023, at the age of 90; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in the community of William Penn in |
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Washington County on September 19, 1932, Gus was a native and |
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lifelong Texan and an influential figure in state politics; his |
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illustrious career of public service and his outstanding |
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leadership in the Texas House of Representatives helped create |
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elevated standards in Texas higher education, services in mental |
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health and intellectual disabilities, environmental regulation, |
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and state infrastructure; and |
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WHEREAS, Gus attended Blinn College, where he participated |
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on the championship debate team and was elected class president; |
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he earned a degree in business administration from The University |
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of Texas, where he served as president of Gamma Delta, a Lutheran |
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Church-Missouri Synod student organization, and as a member of |
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the Reserve Officers' Training Corps; he went on to serve with |
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distinction as a commissioned reserve officer in the United |
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States Army; and |
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WHEREAS, After a career with the Borden Company in |
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Houston, Gus was elected in 1960 to the Texas House of |
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Representatives, where he served as a legislator for six terms; |
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he represented Washington, Waller, and Austin Counties, and his |
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many roles included serving as vice chair of the House |
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Appropriations Committee, chair of the Committee on Claims and |
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Accounts, chair of the Legislative Redistricting Committee, and |
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member of the Legislative Budget Board and the Texas Legislative |
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Council; Representative Mutscher was unanimously elected 67th |
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Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives in 1969, and he |
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presided over the House chamber during the 61st and 62nd Texas |
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Legislatures; and |
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WHEREAS, Speaker Mutscher was instrumental in passing |
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legislation that bolstered the Texas higher education and health |
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care systems by incorporating Baylor Medical School into the |
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state education network; he helped to increase environmental |
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protections by supporting legislation to keep Galveston County's |
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beaches clean and to improve air and water quality; a proud |
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Texan, Speaker Mutscher was passionate about preserving Texas |
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history, and he played a significant role in the construction of |
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the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco and the Star of |
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the Republic Museum in Washington; he was a highly respected and |
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admired Speaker of the House and representative of the public |
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good, and he received recognition for his service from Presidents |
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Lyndon B. Johnson and George H. W. Bush; and |
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WHEREAS, After his retirement from the state legislature, |
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Gus returned to public office to serve as Washington County Judge |
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for 12 years; he worked in the cattle industry and the real estate |
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market and gave generously of his time and resources to his |
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community; he enjoyed tending to his cattle, cheering for the |
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Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys, and spending time with his |
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beloved children and his grandsons; a man of deep and abiding |
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faith, Gus was a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church in |
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Brenham and a steadfast leader of the Brenham community; and |
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WHEREAS, Gus Mutscher was a man of strength, wisdom, and |
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fierce determination; he will forever be remembered for his bold |
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leadership and his enduring commitment to building a better |
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future for every resident of the Lone Star State, and he leaves |
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behind an inspiring legacy for all Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Gus Franklin Mutscher; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Gus Franklin Mutscher. |