H.R. No. 894
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Honorable Byron Tunnell has made myriad
    1-2  contributions to the citizens of this state throughout a
    1-3  distinguished tenure in public service that has spanned more than
    1-4  four decades; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, A native Texan, he was born in Tyler on October 14,
    1-6  1925, and proudly served his country as a young man during World
    1-7  War II with the U.S.  Navy Air Corps; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Mr. Tunnell was graduated from Baylor University
    1-9  with a law degree in 1952 and has enjoyed a successful career as an
   1-10  attorney in which capacity he has argued cases at almost every
   1-11  level of the judicial system, including the United States Supreme
   1-12  Court; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Blessed with a strong social conscience and a
   1-14  sincere interest in benefitting his fellowman, Mr. Tunnell first
   1-15  ran for a seat in the House of Representatives of the 55th Texas
   1-16  Legislature and easily won reelection to three additional terms
   1-17  based on his extensive accomplishments as a state representative;
   1-18  and
   1-19        WHEREAS, Selected by his peers to serve as speaker during the
   1-20  58th Legislature, he played an instrumental role in the passage of
   1-21  significant legislation during that session that provided for the
   1-22  creation of the Texas Tourist Development Agency, the merging of
   1-23  several  existing state agencies into the Texas Parks and Wildlife
   1-24  Department, the designation of a portion of the Texas coast to be
    2-1  acquired by the federal government for the establishment of the
    2-2  Padre Island National Seashore, and the passage of the Texas
    2-3  Regulatory Loan Act; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Though he was reelected to an additional term
    2-5  following his session as speaker, Mr. Tunnell chose to accept the
    2-6  appointment of Governor John Connally to fill a vacant seat on the
    2-7  Railroad Commission of Texas following the resignation of one of
    2-8  its members; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Mr. Tunnell greatly contributed to the work of the
   2-10  Railroad Commission throughout an accomplished tenure that not only
   2-11  encompassed his predecessor's unexpired term, but also included two
   2-12  additional terms to which he was elected in 1966 and 1972, the
   2-13  latter of which he also served as chairman; and
   2-14        WHEREAS, Mr. Tunnell left the commission in 1973 to accept a
   2-15  position with a Houston oil and gas firm, Tenneco, Inc., with whom
   2-16  he was employed until his retirement in 1990; and
   2-17        WHEREAS, Though he has claimed to be retired, that issue
   2-18  remains at question because he continues to return to public
   2-19  service whenever his assistance is requested on matters of pressing
   2-20  concern to the state; most recently, he accepted the appointment of
   2-21  Governor George W. Bush to serve as one of three conservators of
   2-22  the troubled Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse; and
   2-23        WHEREAS, For more than 40 years, Byron Tunnell has led this
   2-24  state through good times and bad, providing consistently
   2-25  exceptional leadership in whatever role he has been asked to fill;
   2-26  at this time, it is indeed an honor to recognize this remarkable
   2-27  gentleman, for his selfless efforts in this regard have made an
    3-1  immeasurable difference in the lives of his fellow Texans; now,
    3-2  therefore, be it
    3-3        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    3-4  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the Honorable Byron Tunnell for
    3-5  his extraordinary contributions to the citizens of this state; and,
    3-6  be it further
    3-7        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-8  prepared for this outstanding statesman as an expression of highest
    3-9  regard by the Texas House of Representatives.