HR863 - In memory of former state representative James R. Pitts of Waxahachie.

      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