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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost an esteemed legislator and |
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dear friend to many with the passing of longtime state |
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representative James R. Pitts of Waxahachie on July 20, 2024, at the |
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age of 77; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Agnes and Roy Pitts in Dallas on January 1, |
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1947, Jim Pitts grew up with an older sister, Rosemary, and |
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identical twin, John; he completed his undergraduate and master's |
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degrees in business administration at Southern Methodist |
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University and earned his law degree from SMU as well; on May 22, |
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1971, he married the former Evelyn Eastham, and they settled in her |
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hometown, Waxahachie; they were blessed with two daughters, Duffy |
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and Ashley, and a son, Ryan; the couple shared a fulfilling |
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relationship until the untimely death of Mrs. Pitts in 2004; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts was employed as an associate at the law |
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office of Lynn G. Griffith before opening his own firm in 1984; in |
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addition, he owned Ellis County Title Company and served as board |
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chair and legal counsel; he continued to practice law until shortly |
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before his passing; and |
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WHEREAS, Early in his career, Mr. Pitts joined the Waxahachie |
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Lions Club and Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce; he went on to serve |
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on the chamber's board and became its president in 1991; over the |
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years, he gave generously of his time and talents in numerous other |
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leadership roles, including as director of the Nicholas P. Sims |
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Library and as president of the Baylor Scott & White Medical Board |
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and the Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services board; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts made his first foray into politics in |
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1978, winning a seat on the board of the Waxahachie Independent |
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School District, and he ultimately served as a trustee for 14 years |
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and held the office of president; elected to the Texas House in |
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1992, he set a high standard of constituent services; he made |
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himself readily available to area citizens, sought their |
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involvement in problem-solving, and facilitated their access to |
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government services; deeply committed to public education, he kept |
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in close contact with school superintendents; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly regarded for his wisdom and fairness, as well |
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as his financial expertise and commitment to fiscal responsibility, |
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Mr. Pitts was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee; as |
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its chair, he helped guide the budget setting process for nearly a |
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decade; he was also chair of a number of appropriations |
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subcommittees, and he served on a range of other committees; an |
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active champion for his district, he was instrumental in such |
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projects as widening the U.S. Highway 287 bypass, renovating the |
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famed Ellis County Courthouse, and rebuilding the historic Hill |
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County Courthouse after a fire; among numerous accolades, he was |
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named three times to the Texas Monthly list of the state's 10 best |
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legislators; the magazine called him "one of the truly great |
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lawmakers of his era"; and |
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WHEREAS, Following 11 terms in office, Mr. Pitts retired from |
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the legislature, but his successors continued to seek his counsel |
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on the appropriations process; he further contributed to public |
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policy discussions as the founder of Jim Pitts Consulting; while |
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working tirelessly for the betterment of the Lone Star State, he |
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always found time for his treasured family; he enthusiastically |
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supported his children's and grandchildren's many activities and |
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enjoyed spending time with them at Cedar Creek Lake and in Park |
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City, Utah; his kind, engaging personality brought him a multitude |
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of friends all across Texas, and he never missed a chance to plan a |
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party and treat guests to a bountiful table of delicious food; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Pitts made a lasting, positive difference |
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through his legislative achievements and wide-ranging civic |
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endeavors, and although he is greatly missed by all who were |
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privileged to know him, his statesmanship and profound devotion to |
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public service will remain a source of inspiration for years to |
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come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable James R. Pitts and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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children, Duffy Bloemendal and her husband, Scott, Ashley Pitts, |
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and James Ryan Pitts and his wife, Faith Anne; to his grandchildren, |
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Jackson, Owen, Will, Margaret, Evelyn, and James Reagan; to his |
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brother, John Robert Pitts and his wife, Mary Bain; and to his many |
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other relatives and host of friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Jim Pitts. |