TITLE: In memory of Gus Franklin Mutscher, former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

SUMMARY: In memory of Gus Franklin Mutscher, former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Honorable Gus Franklin Mutscher of Brenham, a former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and Washington County judge, passed away on February 26, 2023, at the age of 90; and WHEREAS, The son of Gus and Gertrude Mutscher, Gus Mutscher was born in the William Penn community in Washington County on November 19, 1932; he graduated from Brenham High School and attended Blinn College on a baseball scholarship before earning a bachelor's degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Austin; as a member of the UT ROTC program, he was commissioned as a reserve officer in the U.S. Army; he went on to work in sales and advertising for the Borden Company; and WHEREAS, Mr. Mutscher was first elected to the Texas House in 1960; a member of numerous committees, he chaired the committees on Claims and Accounts and Congressional and Legislative Districts, and he served as vice chair of Land Use and Environmental Control, Liquor Regulation, and Multiple Use and Pollution of All Waters of Texas; he was also a member of the Legislative Budget Board and Texas Legislative Council; in 1969, he was unanimously elected House Speaker; he favored a strong committee system, promoted efficiency, and stressed the importance of interim activities; his priorities throughout his legislative career included air and water quality, public, higher, and medical education, agricultural extension services, state highways, and museums of Texas history, notably the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and the Star of the Republic Museum; moreover, he was instrumental in securing passage of clean beach legislation for Galveston County, and he increased funding for the Texas Department of Public Safety; he was named a distinguished alumnus by UT Austin; and WHEREAS, Following his sixth term, Mr. Mutscher returned to Brenham, pursuing interests in real estate and the cattle business; he was appointed as county judge to fill a vacancy in 1976 and during a tenure that spanned nearly 14 years, he was elected president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas and of the National Association of Regional Councils; a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church, he served as an officer and expressed his faith through charitable endeavors; he was a champion of the Blinn College Foundation and assisted in the establishment of the Blinn College Alumni & Friends Association and Hall of Honor; in 2017, he was honored for his role in founding the Star of the Republic Museum, as well as his efforts in behalf of Blinn College; and WHEREAS, Mr. Mutscher was devoted above all to his family, including his two children, Lisa and Gus, and his grandsons, Matthew, William, Cade, and Drew; he loved spending time with them, especially watching Texas Longhorn football and baseball games, and he was always ready to offer encouragement and support; in addition, he loved working on his ranch, and he often drove to Irving to see the Dallas Cowboys play; and WHEREAS, While the death of Gus Mutscher brings great sadness to his family and friends, his accomplishments will continue to benefit his community for years to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Gus Franklin Mutscher and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his children, Lisa Mikus and her husband, James, and Gus H. Mutscher and his wife, Amy; to his grandsons, Matthew Mikus and his wife, Lauren, William Mikus, Cade Mutscher, and Drew Mutscher; to his sister, Marge Foelber; to his brothers-in-law, Herb Foelber and Fred Boecker; to his sister-in-law, Joanne Mutscher; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of former Texas House Speaker Gus Franklin Mutscher. Kacal Phelan Guerra Murr Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allison Harless Noble Anch a Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Ashby Harrison Orr Bailes Hayes Ortega Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bernal Herrero Perez Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bonnen Holland Price Bowers Howard Ramos Bryant Hull Raney Buckley Hunter Raymond Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Canales Kacal Schofield Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Cole Kitzman Shine Collier Klick Slaton Cook Kuempel Slawson Cortez Lalani Smith Craddick Lambert Smithee Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Darby Leach Stucky Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Dean Longoria Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dutton Lozano Thimesch Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Gates Meyer Turner Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Geren Moody Vasut Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle Gonz lez of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson Gonz lez of El Paso Morrison Wu Goodwin Mu oz, Jr. Zwiener President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 85 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on April 19, 2023. Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 85 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the Senate on April 19, 2023. Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: Date Governor