Bill Text: TX HR148 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of former Travis County commissioner Ronald Knowlton Davis.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-18 - Reported enrolled [HR148 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR148-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 148 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Travis County lost a trailblazing public servant | ||
| with the death of former county commissioner Ronald Knowlton Davis | ||
| on February 2, 2021, at the age of 75; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A fourth-generation Austinite, Ron Davis was born to | ||
| Valena A. Davis Simmons on May 10, 1945; he earned his bachelor's | ||
| degree in political science from Huston-Tillotson University and, | ||
| while working as a computer analyst for the U.S. Department of | ||
| Veterans Affairs, completed his master's degree in public | ||
| administration at Texas State University; in 1983, he founded the | ||
| East Austin Strategy Team, which successfully fought to shut down a | ||
| 52-acre gasoline storage site that was polluting a residential | ||
| community of color; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Davis also helped secure over $9 million to | ||
| resolve flooding problems in neglected East Austin, and he was | ||
| instrumental in the creation of the Austin Community College | ||
| Eastview Campus; joining forces with environmentalists across the | ||
| county, he vigorously supported Austin's Save Our Springs Ordinance | ||
| and went door to door to explain to his neighbors how development in | ||
| Southwest Austin affected them; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1998, Mr. Davis won election to the county | ||
| commission, and for the next 18 years, he worked tirelessly to | ||
| ensure Precinct 1 received its fair share of public resources for | ||
| economic development, social services, and infrastructure, | ||
| including more than $158 million for roads and bridges; he | ||
| championed a referendum to fund construction by a nonprofit | ||
| corporation of a 53-mile pipeline for a high-quality supply of | ||
| drinking water to eastern Travis County; further promoting | ||
| environmental justice, he offered strong opposition to the | ||
| expansion of landfills and mining operations in sensitive areas, | ||
| and he was involved in writing rules requiring buffer areas around | ||
| solid waste facilities near schools, churches, residential areas, | ||
| and water wells; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Recognizing urgent need in the county's Eastern | ||
| Crescent, Mr. Davis secured affordable housing options and | ||
| spearheaded an initiative to build a shelter for homeless women and | ||
| children, which is now operated by the Salvation Army; he advocated | ||
| powerfully for an amendment to county code that expanded emergency | ||
| assistance program eligibility criteria for the elderly and people | ||
| with disabilities; moreover, he took a leading role in both the | ||
| establishment of Travis County health clinics and the creation of | ||
| the first regional mobility authority for Central Texas; his | ||
| concern for the unemployed and underemployed guided his engagement | ||
| in economic development programs, such as incentives to attract new | ||
| businesses; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Among many accolades, Mr. Davis received the 1992 | ||
| DeWitty/Overton Award for public service from the NAACP, and he was | ||
| named a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas State; and | ||
| WHEREAS, His dedication to the community was surpassed only | ||
| by his devotion to his family; Mr. Davis shared a fulfilling | ||
| marriage of 53 years with his wife, Annie Delois Davis, and he took | ||
| great pride in their three children, Ron, Cedric, and Shaunda, and | ||
| six grandchildren, Arnell, Ryon, Aaron, Cameron, Chanecia, and | ||
| Cedric; sustained by a strong faith, he was a longtime member of | ||
| Mount Olive Baptist Church; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Through his unyielding efforts, Ron Davis made a | ||
| positive difference in the lives of countless Travis County | ||
| residents, and although he will be deeply missed, his exceptional | ||
| 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 hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable | ||
| Ronald Knowlton Davis 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 Ron Davis. | ||
| Cole | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 148 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on March 10, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
