Bill Text: TX HR1988 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Robert W. Edgar, president of Common Cause.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-05-21 - Reported enrolled [HR1988 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR1988-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 1988 |
|
||
WHEREAS, The State of Texas joins all Americans in mourning | ||
the loss of a determined advocate for stronger democracy and social | ||
justice, Robert W. Edgar, who passed away on April 23, 2013, at the | ||
age of 69; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia on May 29, 1943, Bob Edgar felt | ||
the calling to become a minister at age 16, and he went on to earn an | ||
undergraduate degree from Lycoming College and a master's degree in | ||
divinity from the Drew Theological School; after being ordained, he | ||
was the protestant chaplain at Drexel University and served as a | ||
pastor at the United Methodist Church in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, | ||
before running for Congress in 1974; and | ||
WHEREAS, While serving the people of Pennsylvania in the | ||
United States Congress for six terms, Mr. Edgar campaigned to curb | ||
wasteful spending and increase the transparency of the government; | ||
a defender of men and women serving in the military, he worked for | ||
measures to provide benefits for Vietnam veterans and readjustment | ||
counseling to treat posttraumatic stress disorder; and | ||
WHEREAS, After leaving Congress, Mr. Edgar served as | ||
president of the Claremont School of Theology in California, and in | ||
2000, he was named general secretary of the National Council of | ||
Churches; under Mr. Edgar's leadership, the NCC, a collection of | ||
more than 100,000 local congregations and 45 million congregants, | ||
embarked on a 10-year effort to defeat poverty; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Edgar became president and chief | ||
executive officer of Common Cause, a nonpartisan organization | ||
advocating for an open government; during his tenure, he guided the | ||
organization as it lobbied for campaign finance regulations and | ||
filibuster reform; and | ||
WHEREAS, Bob Edgar was a compassionate leader whose moral | ||
compass informed his public service, and the legacy that he leaves | ||
behind will continue to inspire all who know of him; now, therefore, | ||
be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Robert W. Edgar and | ||
extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of | ||
48 years, the former Merle Louise Deaver; to his sons, Robert, | ||
T. David, and Andrew; to his mother, Marion Edgar; to his brothers, | ||
Ralph and Richard; to his eight grandchildren; and to his other | ||
relatives 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 Bob Edgar. | ||
Anchia | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 1988 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on May 17, 2013. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||