Bill Text: TX SR155 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of State Representative Barry Bradford Telford of De Kalb.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2025-02-26 - Reported enrolled [SR155 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SR155-Enrolled.html
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| In Memory | ||
| of | ||
| Barry Telford | ||
| WHEREAS, Residents of Northeast Texas are mourning the | ||
| loss of longtime state representative Barry Bradford Telford of | ||
| De Kalb, who passed away on June 1, 2024, at the age of 77; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in New Boston on October 24, 1946, Barry | ||
| Telford was the son of John Quincy Telford and Bertha Van Hooser | ||
| Telford; he married the former Marsha Cunningham on | ||
| September 3, 1966, and they were blessed with two children, Anna | ||
| Christina and John; after attending Texarkana Junior College, | ||
| Mr. Telford earned his bachelor's degree in education from North | ||
| Texas State University; he became owner and operator of a family | ||
| business, Telford Gas and Furniture; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1986, Mr. Telford was elected to the first of | ||
| nine terms in the Texas House of Representatives; he held a | ||
| number of leadership roles, including chair of the Calendars and | ||
| the Pensions and Investments Committees; committed to | ||
| strengthening the state's pension system, he was instrumental in | ||
| improving benefits for state employees and oversaw the Consumer | ||
| Price Index Catch-Up Plan, a significant legislative change that | ||
| provided relief to public education retirees impacted by | ||
| inflation; he also advocated for students and teachers and helped | ||
| expand access to higher education in Northeast Texas; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Telford greatly benefited the state as chair | ||
| of the Select Committee on Rural Development; in addition, he | ||
| worked to improve the prison system, serving as vice chair of the | ||
| Corrections Committee and as chair of the Corrections | ||
| Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight; the Barry B. Telford Unit | ||
| of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in New Boston was | ||
| named in his honor; he further served as co-chair of the Texas | ||
| State Artist Committee, and he was a member of numerous other | ||
| committees, among them Human Services, House Administration, and | ||
| Judicial Affairs; a friend and mentor to many, he was admired by | ||
| legislators, staff, and the wider Capitol community for his | ||
| fair-mindedness and dedication, as well as for his sense of | ||
| humor; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Following his retirement from the legislature in | ||
| 2005, Mr. Telford continued to give generously of his time and | ||
| talents in behalf of his community; he belonged to the De Kalb | ||
| Masonic Lodge No. 9 and First United Methodist Church; a member | ||
| of the Maud Gun Club, he enjoyed skeet shooting and hunting; he | ||
| was also a voracious reader; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Barry Telford was a devoted public servant and an | ||
| effective champion for rural Texans, and although he is deeply | ||
| missed by those he left behind, his contributions will continue | ||
| to resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th | ||
| Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable | ||
| Barry Bradford Telford and extend sincere condolences to the | ||
| members of his family: to his wife, Marsha Cunningham Telford; to | ||
| his children, Anna Christina Telford and her husband, Jason | ||
| Cording, and John Farris Telford and his wife, Molly Darden | ||
| Telford; to his grandchildren, Quincy Cole Telford, Zoe Kate | ||
| Telford, and Gracie Reese Telford; to his sisters-in-law, Lois | ||
| Crim, Brenda Smith, and Gay Cunningham; to his brother-in-law, | ||
| Winston Cunningham; to his nephews, Quincy Ellis Telford and | ||
| Bradford Grey Telford; and to his 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 Senate adjourns | ||
| this day, it do so in memory of Barry Telford. | ||
| Hughes | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on February 26, 2025, | ||
| by a rising vote. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
