TITLE: Congratulating James M. Bass on his retirement as executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation.

SUMMARY: Congratulating James M. Bass on his retirement as executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, James M. Bass is retiring as executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation on May 31, 2021, drawing to a close an exceptional career with the agency that has spanned more than three and a half decades; and WHEREAS, Mr. Bass has served at the helm of TxDOT since January 2016; among his major accomplishments, he has overseen the creation and maintenance of nearly 200,000 lane miles of roads, managed the issuance of over $24 billion in bonds for a variety of programs, and collaborated with regional, state, and federal agencies in creating a wide range of multimodal transportation solutions; and WHEREAS, In 1985, Mr. Bass began his career with the agency as a summertime employee in the Fort Worth District; he next worked as an engineering aide in the Austin District, and in 1997 he was promoted to budget and forecasting manager; two years later, he became director of the finance division; he was named chief financial officer in 2005, a title he held for more than a decade until his promotion to executive director; Mr. Bass holds an accounting degree from The University of Texas at Austin; following his retirement, he will take on a new role as executive director of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority; and WHEREAS, The dedication, professionalism, and forward-thinking leadership demonstrated by James Bass in his outstanding tenure at TxDOT have greatly benefited his fellow Texans, and he may indeed take well-deserved pride in his exceptional record of achievement as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his career; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate James M. Bass on his retirement as executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Bass as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Canales Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1449 was adopted by the House on May 26, 2021, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House