Bill Text: TX HR973 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Mary Elizabeth "Mimi" Irwin of West.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-04-17 - Reported enrolled [HR973 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR973-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 973 |
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WHEREAS, The West community lost one of its most admired | ||
citizens with the passing of Mary Elizabeth "Mimi" Irwin, owner of | ||
the Village Bakery, on March 4, 2019, at the age of 74; and | ||
WHEREAS, The former Mary Elizabeth Montgomery was born on | ||
August 9, 1944, to Wendel and Georgia Montgomery; known as "Mimi" | ||
since childhood, she grew up in a family that was deeply engaged in | ||
both Czech culture and entrepreneurship, with her mother's family | ||
owning the Famous Dry Goods, later known as the Village Shoppe, and | ||
her father owning the Old Corner Drug Store; her parents joined | ||
together to establish the Village Bakery in 1952, and while they | ||
built the business, Mimi completed her schooling at St. Mary's | ||
Catholic School, West High School, and The University of Texas at | ||
Austin, where she graduated with honors; and | ||
WHEREAS, Ms. Irwin went on to establish a career in retail | ||
merchandising at Foley's in Houston; she rose through the ranks to | ||
become a vice president of Federated Department Stores, now Macy's, | ||
Inc., and resided in New York City for 25 years; although her work | ||
took her all over the world, she always held a special place in her | ||
heart for West; after her father died in 2003, she returned home | ||
from Manhattan and took over the Village Bakery; her natural | ||
business sense helped her guide the enterprise into a new era of | ||
success while maintaining its Czech heritage and family traditions; | ||
along the way, she stayed active in the fashion industry through her | ||
consulting company, Gramercy Associates; and | ||
WHEREAS, A respected and dedicated member of her community, | ||
Ms. Irwin served as a director of the Kiwanis Club of West, helped | ||
establish the West Museum, and supported Westfest, the annual Czech | ||
celebration cofounded by her parents in the 1970s; passionate about | ||
volunteer work and historic preservation, she was a member of the | ||
board for the Brazos Forum and the Historic Waco Foundation as well | ||
as a member of the McLennan County Historic Commission and the | ||
standing committee of the W. R. Poage Legislative Library at Baylor | ||
University; and | ||
WHEREAS, Throughout her life, Mimi Irwin set an inspiring | ||
example of civic engagement and professional achievement, and her | ||
legacy will long be cherished by those who were blessed to share in | ||
her love and friendship; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Mary Elizabeth | ||
Irwin and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family: to | ||
her aunt, Gladys Quilter; to her cousins, Patti Arms and her | ||
husband, Geoff, John M. Price and his wife, Brenda, and Suzy Price; | ||
to her extended cousins, Lauren Beck and her husband, Chris, and | ||
their children, John T. Price and his wife, Rachel, and their | ||
children, and Austin Price and his wife, Sarah; and to her other | ||
relatives and many friends; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of | ||
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mimi Irwin. | ||
Kacal | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 973 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on April 12, 2019. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||