| |
| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
|
|
commemorates the life and legacy of James F. Arens, who died July |
|
|
27, 2025, at the age of 91; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, James Arens was born on April 20, 1934, in Hamel, |
|
|
Minnesota; he attended Crosier Seminary before earning his |
|
|
medical degree from Creighton University in 1959; he went on to |
|
|
complete his residency in Hawaii and New Orleans and four years |
|
|
of service in the United States Air Force, launching a career |
|
|
that would span decades of exceptional service in medicine and |
|
|
education; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After forming an intensive care unit during his |
|
|
final military assignment at Travis Air Force Base in Califoria, |
|
|
Dr. Arens was appointed chairman of anesthesiology at the |
|
|
prestigious Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, where he also opened |
|
|
an intensive care unit that expanded rapidly under his guidance; |
|
|
he continued his career in prominent leadership roles at the |
|
|
University of Mississippi, The University of Texas Medical |
|
|
Branch at Galveston and Health Science Center at Houston, and MD |
|
|
Anderson Cancer Center; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A respected voice in his profession, Dr. Arens |
|
|
served as president of the Texas and American Societies of |
|
|
Anesthesiologists, the American Board of Anesthesiology, and the |
|
|
American Board of Medical Specialties; his outstanding |
|
|
contributions to the field of anesthesiology and the education of |
|
|
hundreds of aspiring residents were recognized with many |
|
|
accolades and Distinguished Service Awards from esteemed |
|
|
national organizations; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Known for his vision, mentorship, and unwavering |
|
|
commitment to medical education, Dr. Arens continued to serve as |
|
|
chairman emeritus of the Department of Anesthesiology at The |
|
|
University of Texas Medical Branch and remained active in |
|
|
professional organizations and the Blinn College Foundation |
|
|
after retiring in 2008; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Above all, James cherished his family, and he |
|
|
shared 40 rewarding years together with his wife, Ann Gardner |
|
|
Arens; they were blessed with two children, Patricia Ann Goforth |
|
|
and James F. Arens II, and his grandchildren, David, Lauren, |
|
|
Elsbeth, Porter, and Peyton, all enriched his life immeasurably; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, James Arens leaves behind a legacy defined by |
|
|
professional excellence and a deep commitment to serving others, |
|
|
and his memory will long be a source of inspiration to the |
|
|
countless students, colleagues, patients, friends, and loved |
|
|
ones whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
|
|
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life |
|
|
of James F. Arens and extend sincere condolences to his family; |
|
|
and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
|
|
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
|
|
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns on this day, it do so in |
|
|
memory of James Arens. |