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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Richardson were deeply saddened by the |
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death of former mayor Bobby Lee Townsend on June 2, 2017, at the age |
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of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Vernon and Lillian Townsend, Bob Townsend |
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was born in Durant, Oklahoma, on January 6, 1933; he studied at the |
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University of Oklahoma and Southeastern Oklahoma State University |
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before going on to complete his master's degree at Southern |
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Methodist University; on July 27, 1952, he married the former |
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Madeline "Lynn" Stevens, and they became the parents of four |
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children, Kurt, Valerie, Kret, and Kevin; he eventually knew the |
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joy of welcoming into his family seven grandchildren, Michael, |
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David, Barrett, Jackson, Kyle, Adrian, and Julie, and six |
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great-grandchildren, Parker, Maddie, Lewis, Melanie, Caroline, and |
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Kennedy; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Townsend began his career as an accountant and |
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data processing developer for Swift and Company in Memphis, |
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Tennessee, and Chicago, Illinois; eager to return to the Southwest, |
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he joined Texas Instruments in 1958, and his responsibilities in |
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the Information Systems and Services Division included management |
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of the company's internal communications system; following his |
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retirement in 1996, he dedicated himself to his beloved community; |
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he was president of the Southwest Richardson Homeowners Association |
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and the Richland Meadows Neighborhood Association, and he served on |
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a number of city boards and commissions; in 2001, he was elected to |
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the city council, and during a tenure that spanned 16 years, he was |
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mayor from 2011 to 2013 and served three terms as mayor pro tem; and |
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WHEREAS, A tireless public servant, Mr. Townsend furthered |
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economic development, launching the Mayor's Office of |
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International Business and building fruitful relationships with |
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business representatives from abroad; he played a key role in a host |
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of projects, among them the Eisemann Center, five DART rail |
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stations, three fire stations, a fire training center, and multiple |
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recreation and sports facilities; moreover, he promoted greater |
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unity and understanding among citizens through his involvement in |
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the reactivation of the Richardson Interfaith Alliance and the |
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adoption of its Charter for Compassion; his profound commitment to |
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the city led him to continue his work until the end of his term on |
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the council despite his battle with lung cancer; named Citizen of |
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the Year for 2016 by the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, he received |
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the city's Distinguished Service Award on the occasion of his |
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retirement in May 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Bob Townsend made a lasting, positive difference in |
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Richardson, and although he is deeply missed, his devotion to his |
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family and his community will remain a source of inspiration to all |
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who had the good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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Bobby Lee Townsend and extend sincere condolences to his loved |
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ones; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bob |
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Townsend. |