SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 633
	In Memory
	of
	Harold Cook
	WHEREAS, A wave of sorrow rippled across the political
	divide with the untimely death of Democratic strategist and
	commentator Harold Lee Cook III on November 10, 2022, at the age
	of 61; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Houston on January 16, 1961, to Martha
	Rondeaux Cook and Harold L. Cook Jr., "Tres" Cook grew up with a
	sister, Martha, and graduated from Bellaire High School; he
	worked on offshore oil rigs and played in piano bars before
	getting around to finishing his bachelor's degree at the
	University of Houston in 1988; finding his calling in politics,
	he served as an aide to then-State Representative Debra Danburg
	and went on to work for two Texas secretaries of state under
	Governor Ann Richards; he was team leader of web marketing and
	public relations for the General Land Office and advised scores
	of aspiring and elected officials, ranging from promising
	neophytes to stars such as President Bill Clinton and Governor
	Ann Richards; and
	WHEREAS, In the late 1990s, Mr. Cook became executive
	director of the Texas Democratic Party; a man of great warmth and
	charm, with a wicked sense of humor, he became fast friends with
	his opposite number in the Republican Party, and he enjoyed
	sparring with him and many other pals on the other side of the
	aisle; his daring, finesse, creativity, and people-wrangling
	skills were on full display during the 2003 quorum break, when 11
	Democratic state senators holed up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in
	a desperate bid to derail a redistricting bill; with his
	assistance, they withstood extreme pressure for more than six
	weeks, bringing a national spotlight to the issue and energizing
	the party; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Cook brought his acerbic wit and keen
	insight to the launch of the Spectrum News program Capital
	Tonight, contributing to its early success; a featured
	commentator, he seldom missed a show, and after suffering a
	stroke, he was back on the air in three weeks; his engaging
	blog and social media posts were must-reads for the political
	set; over the years, he extended his family with a large
	collection of friends, including the legendary Molly Ivins;
	knowing his love of far West Texas, as her days waned, she sold
	him her beautiful lot in Marathon; he built himself a small
	casita with a big porch, where he and his exuberant dog,
	Travis, liked to hold court and watch the sunset; and
	WHEREAS, Harold Cook approached the rough-and-tumble world
	of politics with a big heart as well as a shrewd mind, and his
	loss is keenly felt by all who were privileged to share in the
	richness of his life; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
	Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Harold Lee Cook
	III and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family:
	to his sister, Martha Payne, and her husband, Tom; to his nephew,
	Matthew Payne; 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 Harold Cook.
	Alvarado
	Blanco Johnson Miles
	Eckhardt LaMantia West
	Gutierrez Menéndez Whitmire
	Hinojosa Zaffirini
	Patrick, President of the Senate
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on May 26, 2023, by a
		rising vote.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate