Bill Text: TX HR106 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of former state representative Toby Ray Goodman of Mansfield.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-09-08 - Reported enrolled [HR106 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR106-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 106 |
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WHEREAS, Residents of Tarrant County are mourning the loss of | ||
former state representative Toby Ray Goodman of Mansfield, who | ||
passed away on July 18, 2021, at the age of 72; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born to Dobbie and Johnnie Goodman in Wichita Falls | ||
on November 2, 1948, Toby Goodman grew up with four younger | ||
siblings, Mike, DeDe, Gary, and Joe; he graduated from Texas | ||
Christian University and went on to earn his law degree at Baylor | ||
University; in 1974, he was hired as an assistant city attorney in | ||
Arlington, and three years later, he entered private practice in | ||
family law; in the course of his career, he established the firm of | ||
Goodman & Clark and taught as an adjunct professor at The University | ||
of Texas at Arlington; devoted to his profession, he served as a | ||
director of both the Arlington Bar Association and the Tarrant | ||
County Family Law Bar Association, and he was a Fellow and Life | ||
Member of the Texas Bar Foundation; and | ||
WHEREAS, This dedicated public servant was first elected to | ||
the Texas House in 1990, and his tenure in the state legislature | ||
ultimately spanned 16 years, from 1991 to 2007; drawing on his | ||
professional experience, he distinguished himself as chair of the | ||
Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee for four of his eight | ||
terms in office; his tireless efforts to reform the juvenile | ||
justice system led to sweeping changes that were emulated across | ||
the country, and he was instrumental in rewriting the Texas Family | ||
Code; moreover, he championed the rise of UTA as a Tier 1 | ||
institution, helping the university to attain support for | ||
development, research, and building construction; his leadership | ||
also benefited the Governor's Juvenile Justice Task Force and the | ||
Attorney General's School Violence Task Force, as well as the | ||
Tarrant County Civil Justice Task Force; known for his | ||
collegiality, intellect, and problem-solving ability, he achieved | ||
positive results through a strong work ethic and quiet | ||
determination; and | ||
WHEREAS, After leaving office, Mr. Goodman continued to | ||
advocate for children, and he was a longtime member of the Greater | ||
Arlington Chamber of Commerce, which presented him with its 2016 | ||
Star Award; his other honors included being named Legislator of the | ||
Year five times by Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates for | ||
Children, and he also received that honor from the National Child | ||
Support Enforcement Association and the Texas Council of Child | ||
Welfare Boards; in addition, he was selected as one of the state's | ||
Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly and as an Honorary | ||
Distinguished Alumni by UTA; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Goodman and his wife, Gloria, shared a | ||
fulfilling marriage of 38 years; he took great pride in his three | ||
children, Brian, Lauri, and Christie, and in his four | ||
grandchildren, Kaleigh, Abbie, Jordan, and Jackson; in his free | ||
time, he enjoyed cheering on the TCU football team, traveling, | ||
researching history, and telling stories, but nothing gave him more | ||
pleasure than helping others; his wonderful sense of humor and | ||
contagious laugh brightened the days of innumerable people; and | ||
WHEREAS, Through his commitment to benefiting children and | ||
families, Toby Goodman made a lasting, positive difference in the | ||
lives of countless Texans, and although he will be deeply missed by | ||
those he left behind, his contributions will continue to resonate | ||
in the years to come; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of | ||
the Honorable Toby Ray Goodman and extend sincere condolences to | ||
all who mourn his passing; 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 Toby | ||
Goodman. | ||
Cook | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 106 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on September 2, 2021. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||