Bill Text: TX HR1494 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of William Albert Swinney Sr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-19 - Reported enrolled [HR1494 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR1494-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 1494 | ||
|
|
||
| WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and | ||
| meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends | ||
| of William Albert Swinney Sr., who passed away on April 20, 2023, at | ||
| the age of 99; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The son of James R. Swinney and Bessie Garner | ||
| Swinney, Bill Swinney was born in Rogers on July 8, 1923, and grew | ||
| up with a younger brother, Robert, and sister, Garnett; during the | ||
| Great Depression, the family moved frequently between ranches and | ||
| small towns in Central Texas and Mississippi, and as the oldest | ||
| child, Mr. Swinney took on enormous responsibility; nevertheless, | ||
| he graduated as president of his high school class; during World | ||
| War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as soon as he was of | ||
| age, and he served as a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber in | ||
| the Pacific Theater; he went on to attend the University of | ||
| Mississippi and studied law in Texas before embarking on an | ||
| entrepreneurial path; after decades as a general contractor, he | ||
| focused on land development and real estate; not a believer in | ||
| retirement, he worked as long as he was able; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1948, he married the former Marjorie June | ||
| Gustafson, and they were blessed with six children; he encouraged | ||
| them to share his enthusiasm for fitness by creating an extensive | ||
| backyard playground on the family's seven-acre lot in San Antonio; | ||
| the family also enjoyed water sports at their vacation house on Lake | ||
| LBJ; on April 14, 1990, Mr. Swinney wed Brenda Kennedy, who | ||
| inspired him to read his Bible and become active in church again; in | ||
| addition, they supported scholarships for students at a Christian | ||
| school near their home; together, they adopted his | ||
| great-grandchild, Scarlett; Mr. Swinney loved to hear his wife play | ||
| hymns and marches on the piano and organ; an inspiration to others, | ||
| the couple was profiled in the April 2023 edition of the Billy | ||
| Graham Evangelistic Association's Decision Magazine; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Although Bill Swinney is deeply missed, he leaves | ||
| behind a legacy of devotion to his family, his faith, and his | ||
| country that his loved ones can remember with pride; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of William Albert | ||
| Swinney Sr. and extend sincere condolences to the members of his | ||
| family: to his wife, Brenda Swinney; to his children, William A. | ||
| "Chip" Swinney Jr. and his wife, Phyllis, David Bruce Swinney, | ||
| Scott Swinney and his wife, Patty, Brett James Swinney and his wife, | ||
| Debbie, Karla Swinney Keahey and her husband, Robert, Kathleen | ||
| Swinney Parker and her husband, Brad, and Scarlett Lee Parker | ||
| Swinney; to his stepchildren, Jeff Kennedy and his wife, Brittney, | ||
| and Scott Kennedy and his wife, Karen; to his 22 grandchildren and | ||
| 13 great-grandchildren; and to his many other relatives and | ||
| 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 William | ||
| Albert Swinney Sr. | ||
| Gerdes | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 1494 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on May 19, 2023. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
