Bill Text: TX HR298 | 2017 | 85th Legislature 1st Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Bobby Lee Townsend, former mayor of Richardson.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-08-17 - Reported enrolled [HR298 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR298-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 298 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Residents of Richardson were deeply saddened by the | ||
| death of former mayor Bobby Lee Townsend on June 2, 2017, at the age | ||
| of 84; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The son of Vernon and Lillian Townsend, Bob Townsend | ||
| was born in Durant, Oklahoma, on January 6, 1933; he studied at the | ||
| University of Oklahoma and Southeastern Oklahoma State University | ||
| before going on to complete his master's degree at Southern | ||
| Methodist University; on July 27, 1952, he married the former | ||
| Madeline "Lynn" Stevens, and they became the parents of four | ||
| children, Kurt, Valerie, Kret, and Kevin; he eventually knew the | ||
| joy of welcoming into his family seven grandchildren, Michael, | ||
| David, Barrett, Jackson, Kyle, Adrian, and Julie, and six | ||
| great-grandchildren, Parker, Maddie, Lewis, Melanie, Caroline, and | ||
| Kennedy; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Townsend began his career as an accountant and | ||
| data processing developer for Swift and Company in Memphis, | ||
| Tennessee, and Chicago, Illinois; eager to return to the Southwest, | ||
| he joined Texas Instruments in 1958, and his responsibilities in | ||
| the Information Systems and Services Division included management | ||
| of the company's internal communications system; following his | ||
| retirement in 1996, he dedicated himself to his beloved community; | ||
| he was president of the Southwest Richardson Homeowners Association | ||
| and the Richland Meadows Neighborhood Association, and he served on | ||
| a number of city boards and commissions; in 2001, he was elected to | ||
| the city council, and during a tenure that spanned 16 years, he was | ||
| mayor from 2011 to 2013 and served three terms as mayor pro tem; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A tireless public servant, Mr. Townsend furthered | ||
| economic development, launching the Mayor's Office of | ||
| International Business and building fruitful relationships with | ||
| business representatives from abroad; he played a key role in a host | ||
| of projects, among them the Eisemann Center, five DART rail | ||
| stations, three fire stations, a fire training center, and multiple | ||
| recreation and sports facilities; moreover, he promoted greater | ||
| unity and understanding among citizens through his involvement in | ||
| the reactivation of the Richardson Interfaith Alliance and the | ||
| adoption of its Charter for Compassion; his profound commitment to | ||
| the city led him to continue his work until the end of his term on | ||
| the council despite his battle with lung cancer; named Citizen of | ||
| the Year for 2016 by the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, he received | ||
| the city's Distinguished Service Award on the occasion of his | ||
| retirement in May 2017; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Bob Townsend made a lasting, positive difference in | ||
| Richardson, and although he is deeply missed, his devotion to his | ||
| family and his community will remain a source of inspiration to all | ||
| who had the good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of | ||
| Bobby Lee Townsend and extend sincere condolences to his loved | ||
| ones; 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 | ||
| Townsend. | ||
| Leach | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 298 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on August 15, 2017. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
