H.R. No. 20 



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with many joyful times and 
meaningful accomplishments may comfort the family and friends of 
James Lindsay Embrey, Jr., of Dallas, who passed away on November 
11, 2005; and
	WHEREAS, Born in 1925 in Gainesville, Mr. Embrey took 
justifiable pride in his distinguished Lone Star heritage, as he 
was the great-grandson of James Menees Lindsay, a Cooke County 
pioneer who came to Texas from his native Tennessee in 1857 and went 
on to become a major developer of the area as well as a noted judge 
and philanthropist; and
	WHEREAS, Accomplished in his own right, James Embrey was 
active in sports in his youth and graduated from Gainesville High 
School with honors and from Southern Methodist University, where he 
earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering in 1945; 
while a student at SMU, he answered his country's call to arms as a 
participant in the V-12 program during World War II, and he also 
served as president of Phi Delta Theta and lettered as a varsity 
guard on the SMU basketball team; in 1947, after finishing his naval 
service, Mr. Embrey completed yet another degree, receiving a 
bachelor's in business administration; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Embrey made a name for himself in the business 
community over the course of a remarkable career that spanned a 
half-century; in the mid-1950s, he and George Underwood, Jr., 
developed Richardson Heights and became pivotal figures in the 
growth of the Richardson area; most recently, Mr. Embrey had 
distinguished himself as chair of First Continental Enterprises, 
and he also co-owned several shopping centers and apartment 
complexes in the area; and
	WHEREAS, In addition to contributing to the economic vitality 
of his community, Mr. Embrey gave generously of his time, talents, 
and resources to Southern Methodist University; a member of its 
board of trustees from 1970 to 1987, he was named trustee emeritus 
of the university in 1991, and he also served as chair of both the 
SMU Alumni Board and Mustang Club, president of the SMU Alumni 
Association, and member of the SMU Athletic Forum Board and the 
School of Engineering Executive Board; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Embrey's dedication to his alma mater has 
touched the lives of countless people in a positive and lasting 
manner; more than 2,000 engineering students have received 
scholarships through an endowment he established in 1978, and 
Mr. Embrey and his wife, Bobbie, donated funds for the construction 
of the Jerry R. Junkins Engineering Building and the Gerald J. Ford 
Stadium; in 2003, they further helped to make possible the 
development of the Embrey Engineering Building; and
	WHEREAS, For their long-standing support, SMU honored the 
Embreys in 1999 with the university's Mustang Award, and the School 
of Engineering presented Mr. Embrey with its Hall of Leaders 
Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004; on November 3, 2005, he 
received the highest honor SMU bestows on its graduates, the 
Distinguished Alumni Award; and
	WHEREAS, James Embrey is deeply missed by all who were 
privileged to know him, and he will long be remembered for the 
legacy of achievement and altruism he leaves behind; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of 
James Lindsay Embrey, Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the 
members of his family:  to his beloved wife, Bobbie G. Sherwood 
Embrey; to his daughters, Gayle Nelson Embrey and Lauren Marsh 
Embrey; to his grandsons, Jeffery Daniel Dean Harwell, Jr., and 
James Lindsay Embrey Harwell; to his stepchildren, Robert Sherwood 
Pirtle, James Taylor Pirtle, Jeanann Pirtle Galvis, and Lynne 
Pirtle Bierdz; to his foster son, David Moore; to his cousin, Bryan 
Marquis; 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 House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James 
Lindsay Embrey, Jr.

                                                                         Goolsby


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 20 was unanimously adopted by a rising 
vote of the House on April 27, 2006.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House