TITLE: In memory of former State Representative and Senator James William "Bill" Haley.

SUMMARY: In memory of former State Representative and Senator James William "Bill" Haley.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The passing of former Texas State Representative and Senator James William Haley of Austin on July 3, 2022, at the age of 78, brought a great loss to his family and many friends; and WHEREAS, Born in Center on September 22, 1943, Bill Haley was the son of Eugene Wayne "Pete" Haley Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Miller Haley, and he grew up with the company of his brothers, Eugene and Thomas; he graduated from Texas Christian University and went on to earn his teaching certificate at Stephen F. Austin State University and a master's degree at Texas State University; during a career in public education that spanned more than a dozen years in Houston and then Center, he taught government, American history, and economics courses, making the subjects fun and interesting while encouraging students to excel; and WHEREAS, Mr. Haley won a special election for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives in 1978, and he took a leading role in enacting sweeping education reforms; widely acknowledged as the most vigorous in the nation at the time, the changes limited class size, set standards for student performance and teacher competency, and raised educator pay rates; he served as chair of the House Public Education Committee, as well as subcommittees on Public Education Appropriative Matters and Budget and Oversight; in addition, he was a member of several other committees, among them State Affairs and Financial Institutions; and WHEREAS, Following his election to the Texas Senate in 1988, he remained an ardent champion of education, earning the nickname "East Texas Maverick" from writer Molly Ivins for both his East Texas drawl and his tenacity; Senator Haley co-chaired the Interim Committee on Proprietary Schools, chaired the Interim Committee on Education, and served as vice chair of the Senate Education Committee and chair of the Special Committee on Administration; throughout his tenure in public office, he was known for both his keen insight and his wit; in one of his better-known jests, he offered a tongue-in-cheek bill amendment to route an intercity bullet train through his hometown, with its population of 6,000, a tactic that earned a whimsical "Best Boondoggle" award from Texas Monthly;the recipient of numerous more serious accolades, he was accorded the Friend of Education Award by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association and Champion of Education Award by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, among many others; and WHEREAS, Senator Haley returned to private life in 1995; a valued member of University Christian Church, he served in various leadership roles, including elder and chair of the board, and he enjoyed teaching the Seekers church school class for 23 years; dedicated to his alma mater, he was active on the board of the Austin Chapter of the TCU Alumni Association, and he was a member of the Austin Regional Council, the National Alumni Board, and the executive board of the TCU College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors; and WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Senator Haley enjoyed the love and support of his wife, Mary, and the couple formed a strong team, having known each other since childhood; he took great pride in his sons, Jeffrey and Robert, and he had the pleasure of seeing his family grow to include five grandchildren; and WHEREAS, Through his unyielding commitment to education, Bill Haley made significant contributions to his fellow Texans, and his warmth, kindness, and sense of humor enriched the lives of all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable James William Haley and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Mary Russell Scriven Haley; to his sons, Jeffrey Russell Haley and his wife Michele, and Robert Colin Haley and his wife, Lisa Marie; to his grandchildren, William Russell Haley, Jonathan Michael Haley, Andrew Christopher Haley, Ava Brooke Haley, and Alexis Giuliana Haley; to his brother, Thomas Laurence Haley, and his wife, Michelle; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of former State Senator Bill Haley. Zaffirini Alvarado Hancock Miles Bettencourt Hinojosa Nichols Birdwell Huffman Parker Blanco Hughes Paxton Campbell Johnson Perry Creighton King Schwertner Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks Flores LaMantia Springer Gutierrez Men ndez West Hall Middleton Whitmire Patrick, President of the Senate President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 23, 2023, by a rising vote.