1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 372
 1-3           WHEREAS, It is a distinct honor and great pleasure for
 1-4     the Senate of the State of Texas to pay tribute to former
 1-5     Texas State Representative Pete Patterson, who has been an
 1-6     effective and industrious public servant from Northeast Texas;
 1-7     and
 1-8           WHEREAS, After growing up on the family farm in
 1-9     Brookston, Texas, Pete Patterson married the former Doris Bell,
1-10     and they continue the ranching and farming operations there; and
1-11           WHEREAS, While maintaining several business interests,
1-12     Pete Patterson worked for a steam-generating plant in Paris;
1-13     he has been involved in land development and building since
1-14     1963 and is a member of the local, state, and national board
1-15     of realtors; and
1-16           WHEREAS, After being elected Lamar County Commissioner
1-17     in 1973, he served until 1977, when he began his legislative
1-18     career; while in the House of Representatives, Pete Patterson
1-19     focused mainly on agricultural issues; during his entire tenure
1-20     in the Texas Legislature, he served on the Agriculture and
1-21     Livestock Committee, where he was chairman for four sessions
1-22     and vice chairman for three sessions; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Some of Pete Patterson's accomplishments have
1-24     included:  reducing inheritance taxes, initiating the exemption
 2-1     of implements of husbandry used in the production of farm and
 2-2     ranch products from ad valorem taxation, creating the Farm and
 2-3     Ranch Finance Program to help farmers and ranchers purchase
 2-4     agricultural land, and specifying that owners, lessees, and
 2-5     other legal occupants of agricultural land are not liable for
 2-6     any injury to a trespasser on their land; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, He has served as the chair of the Agriculture and
 2-8     Rural Development Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference;
 2-9     as a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures, he
2-10     served on the Committee on Agriculture and International Trade; and
2-11           WHEREAS, A devout Christian, he is a member of Oak Park
2-12     United Methodist Church at Paris and was chairman of the board
2-13     in 1979-1980; he is also a member of Roxton Masonic Lodge Number
2-14     543 and of the Paris Kiwanis Club; and
2-15           WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous honors and awards,
2-16     Pete Patterson was selected Man of the Year by County Agricultural
2-17     Agents in 1992, and he was chosen for the Vocational Agriculture
2-18     Teachers Association Distinguished Service Award in 1997; and
2-19           WHEREAS, Pete Patterson is an outstanding gentleman who has
2-20     worked tirelessly on behalf of his fellow Texans; now, therefore,
2-21     be it
2-22           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-23     76th Legislature, hereby extend its sincere gratitude to
2-24     Pete Patterson for his significant contributions to the people
2-25     of Texas; and, be it further
2-26           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him
 3-1     as an expression of the high regard of the Texas Senate.
 3-2                                                                    Cain
 3-3                                  ______________________________________
 3-4                                          President of the Senate
 3-5                                       I hereby certify that the above
 3-6                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 3-7                                  on March 9, 1999.
 3-8                                  ______________________________________
 3-9                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-10                                  ______________________________________
3-11                                           Member, Texas Senate