TITLE: In memory of the Honorable Leo Berman of Tyler.

SUMMARY: In memory of the Honorable Leo Berman of Tyler.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, A life dedicated to the service of his state and nation has drawn to a close with the death of the Honorable Leo Berman of Tyler on May 23, 2015, at the age of 79; and WHEREAS, Leo Berman was born on October 21, 1935; the son of immigrant parents from Poland and Latvia, he earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Southern Methodist University and then embarked upon an outstanding 22-year career in the U.S. Army; and WHEREAS, Mr. Berman graduated first in his class at the army's Field Artillery School Officer Candidate School, and he also received diplomas from the army's Air Defense Artillery and Missile School, Armor School, and Command and General Staff College; he served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and he held appointment as an army liaison to Congress for three years; he retired in 1976 at the rank of lieutenant colonel; and WHEREAS, This courageous soldier earned numerous military awards, including three Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, nine Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, as well as the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm and the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal first class; in 2009, he was promoted to colonel in the Texas State Guard, and his state awards included the Texas Distinguished Service Medal, the Texas Outstanding Service Medal, the Texas Medal of Merit, the Texas Federal Service Medal, and the Texas State Guard Service Medal; and WHEREAS, After returning to civilian life, Mr. Berman worked as a public affairs executive for Sun Exploration and Production Company from 1980 to 1991; he also threw himself into public service, seeking and winning election to the Arlington City Council in 1979 and serving six years, including two as mayor pro tem; in addition, he received gubernatorial appointments to the board of the Texas Army National Guard Armory and to the Texas Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, which he also chaired; and WHEREAS, Mr. Berman first won election to the Texas Legislature in 1998, and he served seven terms, until 2013; during his exemplary 14-year tenure as the state representative from District 6, he chaired the Committee on Elections and the Committee on Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight and served as vice chair of the Committee on House Administration; his other committee assignments included Appropriations, Higher Education, and Government Reform; Mr. Berman's accomplishments included helping The University of Texas at Tyler start a nursing program; he was especially attentive to the concerns of his individual constituents, and he took pride in the fact that he answered every phone call, e-mail, and letter personally; and WHEREAS, A man of strong Christian faith, Leo Berman attended Christ Episcopal Church in Tyler, where he was a leading lay member; he also gave generously of his time and talents as a member of the executive committee of the East Texas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and as a board member of the Bethesda Health Clinic in Tyler, East Texas Meals on Wheels, Texas College, and the Arc of Smith County, which named him board member emeritus; and WHEREAS, Mr. Berman's first wife, Cara Sue Hughey Berman, predeceased him, and later in life, he was fortunate to find love again with his second wife, Dr. Lou Ann Berman; he was the father of five children, and he was blessed with seven grandchildren; and WHEREAS, A devoted family man and a dedicated public servant, Leo Berman fought passionately for the ideals and principles in which he believed, and the legacy he leaves behind will continue to inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to the life of Leo Berman and extend sincere condolences to his wife, Dr. Lou Ann Berman, to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 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 the Honorable Leo Berman. Hughes Flynn Schaefer Thompson of Harris Craddick Straus Gonz lez Otto Allen Guerra Paddie Alonzo Guillen Parker Alvarado Gutierrez Paul Anchia Harless Pe a Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phelan Anderson of McLennan Herrero Phillips Ashby Howard Pickett Aycock Huberty Price Bell Hughes Raney Bernal Hunter Raymond Blanco Isaac Reynolds Bohac Israel Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Rose Button King of Parker Sanford Canales King of Taylor Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schofield Clardy Klick Schubert Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Cyrier Laubenberg Smith Dale Leach Smithee Darby Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel M rquez Stickland Dukes Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Collin Fallon Meyer Turner of Harris Farias Miles Turner of Tarrant Farney Miller of Comal VanDeaver Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Villalba Fletcher Minjarez Vo Flynn Moody Walle Frank Morrison White of Bell Frullo Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Murphy Workman Geren Murr Wray Giddings Naishtat Wu Goldman Nev rez Zedler Gonzales Oliveira Zerwas President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 137 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 29, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 137 was adopted by the Senate on May 29, 2015, by a viva-voce vote. Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: Date Governor