H.R. No. 863

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Former state representative James R. Pitts of
	Waxahachie passed away on July 20, 2024, at the age of 77, bringing
	a great loss to his family and friends and to the State of Texas; and
	WHEREAS, The son of Agnes and Roy Pitts, Jim Pitts was born in
	Dallas on January 1, 1947, and he grew up with the companionship of
	his older sister, Rosemary, and identical twin, John; he graduated
	from Jesuit High School and went on to attend Southern Methodist
	University, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in
	business administration as well as a juris doctor degree; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts began his legal career as an associate in
	the law office of Lynn G. Griffith, and in 1984, he established his
	own firm in Waxahachie; he continued to practice law throughout his
	life; he also owned Ellis County Title Company, where he served as
	board chair and legal counsel; and
	WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Pitts was a member of
	the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce, and he served on its board of
	directors and later became board president; in addition, he was
	involved in the Waxahachie Lions Club, the Community Advisory
	Council for Scottish Rite Learning Center, and the Waxahachie
	Foundation, and he held leadership positions with Citizens National
	Bank of Texas, Nicholas P. Sims Library, Presbyterian Children's
	Services, Broadway Dallas, ZACH Theatre in Austin, and the Baylor
	Scott & White Medical Board in Waxahachie; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts won election to the Waxahachie
	Independent School District Board of Trustees in 1978, and he held
	that seat for 14 years and served as the board's president; in 1992,
	he successfully ran for the District 10 seat in the Texas House of
	Representatives; he was sworn into office in January 1993, and over
	the course of his tenure, he worked tirelessly in behalf of his
	constituents; he was an avid supporter of area school districts,
	and he contributed to a variety of projects benefiting the
	residents of Ellis, Hill, and Henderson Counties; he also authored
	the resolution that designated Waxahachie as the Crape Myrtle
	Capital of Texas; and
	WHEREAS, During his 11 terms in office, Mr. Pitts was a
	member of numerous committees; he was first appointed to the
	appropriations committee in 1997, and he went on to serve as its
	chair for a decade; in that position, he took on the important task
	of overseeing the development of the state's budget, and he
	championed wise financial stewardship; in addition, he held
	leadership roles with several appropriations subcommittees as well
	as with a number of other committees, including ways and means and
	government reform; and
	WHEREAS, Among his many achievements, Mr. Pitts was named to
	the Ten Best Legislators list by Texas Monthly in 2005, 2009, and
	2013; he concluded his career in the Texas House in January 2015,
	following more than two decades of distinguished public service; in
	his retirement, he continued to work on key issues in the
	legislature as the founder of Jim Pitts Consulting; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts married the former Evelyn Eastham on
	May 22, 1971, and the couple shared a rewarding union that spanned
	33 years before Mrs. Pitts tragically passed away in 2004; they
	were the proud parents of three children, Duffy, Ashley, and Ryan,
	and over the years, their treasured family grew to include six
	grandchildren, Jackson, Owen, Will, Margaret, Evelyn, and James
	Reagan; he was a steadfast source of encouragement for his children
	and grandchildren, and he took great pleasure in hosting guests at
	his home; and
	WHEREAS, An esteemed legislator, attorney, and community
	leader, Jim Pitts exemplified the highest ideals of public service,
	and his contributions to his fellow Texans will be remembered and
	admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
	James R. Pitts and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family 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 House of
	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jim Pitts.
	Ashby
	Hunter
	Geren
	Thompson
	Longoria
	Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
	Alders Guillen Morgan
	Allen Harless Muñoz
	Anchía Harris Noble
	Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
	Barry Harrison Oliverson
	Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
	Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
	Bernal Hernandez Patterson
	Bhojani Hickland Paul
	Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
	Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
	Bryant Hopper Phelan
	Buckley Howard Pierson
	Bucy Hull Plesa
	Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
	Button Isaac Reynolds
	Cain Johnson Richardson
	Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
	Canales Jones of Harris Romero
	Capriglione Kerwin Rose
	Cole King Rosenthal
	Collier Kitzman Schatzline
	Cook LaHood Schofield
	Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
	Craddick Lambert Shaheen
	Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
	Curry Leach Simmons
	Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
	A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
	Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
	Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
	DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
	Dorazio Louderback Tepper
	Dutton Lowe Thompson
	Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
	Fairly Lujan Toth
	Flores Luther Troxclair
	Frank Manuel Turner
	Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
	Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
	Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
	Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
	Gates Metcalf Vo
	Gerdes Meyer Walle
	Geren Meza Ward Johnson
	Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
	González of Dallas Moody Wilson
	González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
	Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 863 was unanimously adopted by a rising
	vote of the House on May 13, 2025.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House