Bill Text: TX SR502 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Alan Russell Erwin.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-05-27 - Reported enrolled [SR502 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SR502-Enrolled.html
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In Memory | ||
of | ||
Alan Russell Erwin | ||
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and | ||
commemorates the life of Alan Russell Erwin, who died November | ||
12, 2019, at the age of 75; and | ||
WHEREAS, An esteemed member of the Austin community, Alan | ||
Erwin had a rewarding life of service and was a devoted husband, | ||
father, and grandfather; he was a distinguished veteran, an | ||
esteemed journalist and author, a respected statesman, and a | ||
faithful Christian servant; and | ||
WHEREAS, Alan Erwin was born on September 4, 1944, in | ||
Greenville, Texas; he began cultivating his writing skills as a | ||
high school student working as a weekly reporter and columnist | ||
for the Baytown Sun, and he went on to earn a bachelor of arts | ||
degree in communications from The University of Texas at Austin; | ||
he married Gay Taylor in December of 1967, and three weeks later, | ||
he joined the United States Navy; after graduating from Officer | ||
Candidate School in Rhode Island, he was stationed aboard the USS | ||
Lexington to serve as the ship's communications and public | ||
affairs officer; in 1969, he was assigned to serve in Vietnam as | ||
an advisor to the Vietnamese Navy's Swift Boat division; and | ||
WHEREAS, Alan worked as a reporter, editor, and publisher | ||
for such leading newspapers as the Dallas Morning News, the | ||
Houston Chronicle, and the New York Times, and he served as the | ||
capitol correspondent for the Hartman newspaper group; he | ||
accomplished his dream of writing a great American novel in 1984, | ||
when he published The Power Exchange; and | ||
WHEREAS, Alan's political career began with his service as | ||
chief of staff for Congressman Bob Casey from Houston; he served | ||
as an advisor and a speech writer for Governor Dolph Briscoe, and | ||
in 1972, the governor appointed him to the Office of | ||
State-Federal Relations in Washington, D.C.; he was one of the | ||
three commissioners first appointed to the Texas Public Utility | ||
Commission, and after he left state government, he served as | ||
senior vice president and manager of the Houston division of Hill | ||
and Knowlton Public Relations; he then established his own | ||
consulting firm, Erwin and Associates; and | ||
WHEREAS, Alan and Gay shared 51 years of marriage, and they | ||
were longtime members of the Episcopal Church of the Good | ||
Shepherd in Austin; they were blessed with three sons, Andy, | ||
Josh, and Will Erwin, and their seven grandchildren enriched his | ||
life immeasurably; and | ||
WHEREAS, Alan remained committed to the United States Navy | ||
and his fellow veterans throughout his life, and he was proud to | ||
have helped raise $1.5 million in donations to commission the | ||
Vietnam Veterans Monument currently standing on the grounds of | ||
the Texas Capitol; he was a true Texas gentleman and a beloved | ||
member of his community, and he leaves behind memories that will | ||
long be cherished by all who were privileged to share in his life; | ||
now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th | ||
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
family of Alan Russell Erwin; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
memory of Alan Erwin. | ||
Eckhardt | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on May 27, 2021, by a | ||
rising vote. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |