Bill Text: TX HR700 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas House Resolution 700 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: In memory of former state representative and state senator Murray Watson Jr of Mart.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-22 - Reported enrolled [HR700 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HR700-Enrolled.html



	H.R. No. 700



	R E S O L U T I O N

	WHEREAS, The life of an admired lawmaker and philanthropist
	drew to a close with the passing of former state representative and
	state senator Murray Watson Jr. of Mart on July 24, 2018, at the age
	of 86; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Mart on May 14, 1932, Murray Watson was the
	son of Murray Watson Sr. and Ethel Bryson Watson; he worked at the
	family feed store as a boy and completed his bachelor's and law
	degrees at Baylor University; when he was only 24, he won election
	to the Texas House of Representatives, and following three terms,
	he was elected to the Texas Senate from District 13, which included
	McLennan, Bell, Milam, Falls, and Limestone Counties; he became
	Senate president pro tempore in the 61st Legislature, and over the
	course of a decade in office, he served as chair of several
	committees, including Environment, Insurance, Preschool Education
	Standards, Legislative, Congressional, and Judicial Districts, and
	State Departments and Institutions; among the many important pieces
	of legislation that he carried, he took greatest pride in the bill
	that enabled the establishment of Texas State Technical College;
	and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Watson returned to practicing law in 1973, and
	for 26 years, he was general counsel for the Texas State College
	system; following his retirement, he remained a staunch supporter
	of the institution, which named its student recreation center in
	his honor; he was instrumental in the establishment of two
	nonprofits that helped students secure loans, the Brazos Higher
	Education Authority and Brazos Higher Education Service Authority,
	and he was CEO of both; moreover, he was a trustee of the McLennan
	Community College Foundation and a tremendous benefactor of his
	alma mater; although he tried to keep his generosity quiet, in 2017,
	he was named Baylor Lawyer of the Year; he was a member of the Baylor
	Law Alumni Association, the Baylor Bear Foundation, and the Baylor
	Founders Club; and
	WHEREAS, Even while serving in the legislature, Mr. Watson
	continued to help out at Watson Feed Store on Saturdays to stay in
	touch with his fellow citizens; he also owned and ran the family
	ranch and cattle operation; a valued member of the business
	community, he was a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Club of Waco,
	and he was active in Masonry for more than six decades; he belonged
	to Austin Avenue United Methodist Church; and
	WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Watson was devoted to his family; he
	shared a rewarding marriage of nearly 59 years with his wife, Greta
	Warren Watson, and he was the proud father of Marcus and Milicent
	and grandfather of Annika and Niklas; and
	WHEREAS, Murray Watson made a positive difference in the
	lives of countless Texans through his passion for helping others
	and his commitment to higher education, and he will be remembered
	with deep admiration and affection by all who were fortunate enough
	to know him; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable
	Murray Watson Jr. and extend sincere sympathy 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 Murray
	Watson Jr.

	Kacal

	______________________________
	Speaker of the House

	I certify that H.R. No. 700 was unanimously adopted by a
	rising vote of the House on March 21, 2019.

	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House