Bill Text: TX HR2168 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating former mayor Larry Francis on his induction into the El Paso Historical Society Hall of Honor.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-26 - Reported enrolled [HR2168 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR2168-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2168 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Former El Paso mayor Larry Francis was honored by | ||
| the El Paso County Historical Society with induction into its Hall | ||
| of Honor in 2013; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Each year, the society pays homage to men and women | ||
| who have made significant contributions to the development and | ||
| quality of life in El Paso County throughout its history, and | ||
| Mr. Francis is indeed one such individual; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio in 1933, Larry Francis moved | ||
| with his family to El Paso in 1941 and went on to graduate from | ||
| Austin High School a decade later; he enrolled at Texas A&M | ||
| University and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical | ||
| engineering, after which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant | ||
| in the United States Air Force; and | ||
| WHEREAS, On completing his enlistment in 1959, Mr. Francis | ||
| returned to El Paso and started an electronics business, Francis | ||
| Communications, that he would eventually pass on to his son, Rick; | ||
| in 1965, he founded the SYT Corporation, which he operated for many | ||
| years until selling the company and retiring in the 1980s; the SYT | ||
| Corporation specialized in designing and producing governmental | ||
| telecommunications equipment and systems and is known for | ||
| introducing the first direct telephone interface between mobile | ||
| radios and the common carrier telephone system; and | ||
| WHEREAS, It was during his retirement years that Mr. Francis | ||
| decided to venture into public service, holding his first post as | ||
| the chair of the Civil Service Commission; in 1993, he became the | ||
| 45th mayor of El Paso after defeating the incumbent and 10 other | ||
| candidates, and he won a landslide victory for reelection two years | ||
| later; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Over the course of his tenure, Mayor Francis guided | ||
| the city through a period of growth and modernization; in a short | ||
| time, he helped close the budget deficit and create a surplus, and | ||
| he was instrumental in resuming stalled expansion efforts for the | ||
| local zoo and airport and in moving forward plans for the | ||
| redevelopment of the Union Plaza District; drawing on his career | ||
| experience, he also led his administration in implementing major | ||
| technology upgrades, including new computer servers and a | ||
| cutting-edge radio communication system for fire, police, and | ||
| emergency medical personnel; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In addition to ably meeting the duties of his | ||
| office, this esteemed gentleman was a member of a number of boards | ||
| and commissions, among them the Sun Bowl Host Committee and the | ||
| Joint Legislature Support Committee, as well as advisory bodies for | ||
| the Fort Bliss Air Defense Museum and the El Paso A&M Club; he has | ||
| further immersed himself in activities with his church and the Boy | ||
| Scouts of America and in charitable fund-raising endeavors; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Along the way, Mr. Francis has been blessed with a | ||
| fine family that includes his wife, Marilyn Francis, their | ||
| children, Rick, Linda, Brian, and Carolyn, and their grandchildren; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Through his contributions as a public official, | ||
| businessman, and engaged citizen, Larry Francis has greatly | ||
| enhanced the community he is proud to call home, and he has earned a | ||
| lasting place among the most influential leaders, past and present, | ||
| to have lived and served in El Paso; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby congratulate former mayor Larry Francis on his | ||
| induction into the El Paso County Historical Society Hall of Honor | ||
| and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it | ||
| further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Mr. Francis as an expression of high regard by the | ||
| Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Márquez | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2168 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 21, 2015, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
