SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 630
 
 
  In Memory
  of
  Bill Haley
 
         WHEREAS, The passing of former Texas State
  Representative and Senator James William Haley of Austin on
  July 3, 2022, at the age of 78, brought a great loss to his
  family and many friends; and
         WHEREAS, Born in Center on September 22, 1943, Bill Haley
  was the son of Eugene Wayne "Pete" Haley Sr. and Mary Elizabeth
  Miller Haley, and he grew up with the company of his brothers,
  Eugene and Thomas; he graduated from Texas Christian University
  and went on to earn his teaching certificate at Stephen F. Austin
  State University and a master's degree at Texas State University;
  during a career in public education that spanned more than a
  dozen years in Houston and then Center, he taught government,
  American history, and economics courses, making the subjects fun
  and interesting while encouraging students to excel; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Haley won a special election for a seat in the
  Texas House of Representatives in 1978, and he took a leading
  role in enacting sweeping education reforms; widely acknowledged
  as the most vigorous in the nation at the time, the changes
  limited class size, set standards for student performance and
  teacher competency, and raised educator pay rates; he served as
  chair of the House Public Education Committee, as well as
  subcommittees on Public Education Appropriative Matters and
  Budget and Oversight; in addition, he was a member of several
  other committees, among them State Affairs and Financial
  Institutions; and
         WHEREAS, Following his election to the Texas Senate in
  1988, he remained an ardent champion of education, earning the
  nickname "East Texas Maverick" from writer Molly Ivins for both
  his East Texas drawl and his tenacity; Senator Haley co-chaired
  the Interim Committee on Proprietary Schools, chaired the
  Interim Committee on Education, and served as vice chair of the
  Senate Education Committee and chair of the Special Committee on
  Administration; throughout his tenure in public office, he was
  known for both his keen insight and his wit; in one of his
  better-known jests, he offered a tongue-in-cheek bill amendment
  to route an intercity bullet train through his hometown, with its
  population of 6,000, a tactic that earned a whimsical "Best
  Boondoggle" award from Texas Monthly; the recipient of numerous
  more serious accolades, he was accorded the Friend of Education
  Award by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association and Champion of
  Education Award by the Texas Elementary Principals and
  Supervisors Association, among many others; and
         WHEREAS, Senator Haley returned to private life in 1995; a
  valued member of University Christian Church, he served in
  various leadership roles, including elder and chair of the board,
  and he enjoyed teaching the Seekers church school class for 23
  years; dedicated to his alma mater, he was active on the board of
  the Austin Chapter of the TCU Alumni Association, and he was a
  member of the Austin Regional Council, the National Alumni Board,
  and the executive board of the TCU College of Fine Arts Board of
  Visitors; and
         WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Senator Haley enjoyed the
  love and support of his wife, Mary, and the couple formed a strong
  team, having known each other since childhood; he took great
  pride in his sons, Jeffrey and Robert, and he had the pleasure of
  seeing his family grow to include five grandchildren; and
         WHEREAS, Through his unyielding commitment to education,
  Bill Haley made significant contributions to his fellow Texans,
  and his warmth, kindness, and sense of humor enriched the lives
  of all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
  Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
  James William Haley and extend sincere condolences to the members
  of his family: to his wife, Mary Russell Scriven Haley; to his
  sons, Jeffrey Russell Haley and his wife Michele, and Robert
  Colin Haley and his wife, Lisa Marie; to his grandchildren,
  William Russell Haley, Jonathan Michael Haley, Andrew
  Christopher Haley, Ava Brooke Haley, and Alexis Giuliana Haley;
  to his brother, Thomas Laurence Haley, and his wife, Michelle;
  and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
  prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns
  this day, it do so in memory of former State Senator Bill Haley.
 
  Zaffirini
 
 
Alvarado Hancock Miles
 
Bettencourt Hinojosa Nichols
 
Birdwell Huffman Parker
 
Blanco Hughes Paxton
 
Campbell Johnson Perry
 
Creighton King Schwertner
 
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
 
Flores LaMantia Springer
 
Gutierrez Menéndez West
 
Hall Middleton Whitmire
 
  Patrick, President of the Senate
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on May 23, 2023, by a
    rising vote.
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate