TITLE: In memory of former state representative James R. Pitts of Waxahachie.

SUMMARY: In memory of former state representative James R. Pitts of Waxahachie.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Former state representative James R. Pitts of Waxahachie passed away on July 20, 2024, at the age of 77, bringing a great loss to his family and friends and to the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, The son of Agnes and Roy Pitts, Jim Pitts was born in Dallas on January 1, 1947, and he grew up with the companionship of his older sister, Rosemary, and identical twin, John; he graduated from Jesuit High School and went on to attend Southern Methodist University, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration as well as a juris doctor degree; and WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts began his legal career as an associate in the law office of Lynn G. Griffith, and in 1984, he established his own firm in Waxahachie; he continued to practice law throughout his life; he also owned Ellis County Title Company, where he served as board chair and legal counsel; and WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Pitts was a member of the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce, and he served on its board of directors and later became board president; in addition, he was involved in the Waxahachie Lions Club, the Community Advisory Council for Scottish Rite Learning Center, and the Waxahachie Foundation, and he held leadership positions with Citizens National Bank of Texas, Nicholas P. Sims Library, Presbyterian Children's Services, Broadway Dallas, ZACH Theatre in Austin, and the Baylor Scott & White Medical Board in Waxahachie; and WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts won election to the Waxahachie Independent School District Board of Trustees in 1978, and he held that seat for 14 years and served as the board's president; in 1992, he successfully ran for the District 10 seat in the Texas House of Representatives; he was sworn into office in January 1993, and over the course of his tenure, he worked tirelessly in behalf of his constituents; he was an avid supporter of area school districts, and he contributed to a variety of projects benefiting the residents of Ellis, Hill, and Henderson Counties; he also authored the resolution that designated Waxahachie as the Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas; and WHEREAS, During his 11 terms in office, Mr. Pitts was a member of numerous committees; he was first appointed to the appropriations committee in 1997, and he went on to serve as its chair for a decade; in that position, he took on the important task of overseeing the development of the state's budget, and he championed wise financial stewardship; in addition, he held leadership roles with several appropriations subcommittees as well as with a number of other committees, including ways and means and government reform; and WHEREAS, Among his many achievements, Mr. Pitts was named to the Ten Best Legislators list by Texas Monthly in 2005, 2009, and 2013; he concluded his career in the Texas House in January 2015, following more than two decades of distinguished public service; in his retirement, he continued to work on key issues in the legislature as the founder of Jim Pitts Consulting; and WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts married the former Evelyn Eastham on May 22, 1971, and the couple shared a rewarding union that spanned 33 years before Mrs. Pitts tragically passed away in 2004; they were the proud parents of three children, Duffy, Ashley, and Ryan, and over the years, their treasured family grew to include six grandchildren, Jackson, Owen, Will, Margaret, Evelyn, and James Reagan; he was a steadfast source of encouragement for his children and grandchildren, and he took great pleasure in hosting guests at his home; and WHEREAS, An esteemed legislator, attorney, and community leader, Jim Pitts exemplified the highest ideals of public service, and his contributions to his fellow Texans will be remembered and admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable James R. Pitts and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family 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 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jim Pitts. Ashby Hunter Geren Thompson Longoria Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw Alders Guillen Morgan Allen Harless Mu oz Anch a Harris Noble Ashby Harris Davila Olcott Barry Harrison Oliverson Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr Bernal Hernandez Patterson Bhojani Hickland Paul Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso Bowers Holt Perez of Harris Bryant Hopper Phelan Buckley Howard Pierson Bucy Hull Plesa Bumgarner Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Cain Johnson Richardson Campos Jones of Dallas Rodr guez Ramos Canales Jones of Harris Romero Capriglione Kerwin Rose Cole King Rosenthal Collier Kitzman Schatzline Cook LaHood Schofield Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft Craddick Lambert Shaheen Cunningham Landgraf Shofner Curry Leach Simmons Darby Leo Wilson Slawson A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico Dorazio Louderback Tepper Dutton Lowe Thompson Dyson Lozano Tinderholt Fairly Lujan Toth Flores Luther Troxclair Frank Manuel Turner G mez Martinez VanDeaver Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell Gates Metcalf Vo Gerdes Meyer Walle Geren Meza Ward Johnson Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton Gonz lez of Dallas Moody Wilson Gonz lez of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 863 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 13, 2025. Chief Clerk of the House