TITLE: In memory of former railroad commissioner and state representative Arthur "Buddy" Temple III.

SUMMARY: In memory of former railroad commissioner and state representative Arthur "Buddy" Temple III.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost an admired business leader, conservationist, and public servant with the passing of former railroad commissioner and state representative Arthur "Buddy" Temple III of Lufkin on April 14, 2015, at the age of 73; and WHEREAS, Born in Texarkana, Arkansas, on February 26, 1942, Buddy Temple was the son of Mary Temple and Arthur Temple Jr.; he grew up in Lufkin, where he began his education, and he later attended St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin before graduating from the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey; after studying at The University of Texas at Austin, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1961; he served in the First Cavalry Unit of the First Armored Division as a crew chief and helicopter copilot; and WHEREAS, Following his military service, Mr. Temple returned to East Texas to join Temple Industries and other family-owned businesses; he served on the board of Temple-Eastex and Temple-Inland, and he was president and chair of the Exeter Investment Company and chair of First Bank and Trust East Texas; moreover, he served on the Memorial Health System board, and as chair of the T. L. L. Temple Foundation, he guided numerous philanthropic efforts; and WHEREAS, Mr. Temple was dedicated to the betterment of East Texas, and he began his career in public service in 1966 as a member of the Diboll school board; during his tenure, he helped marshal the integration of local schools; he went on to represent District 6 in the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1981, and in addition to serving on numerous committees, he was a cosponsor of the 1973 State Code of Ethics and Financial Disclosure for Elected and Appointed Officials, instituted in response to the Sharpstown banking scandal; subsequently, he was a member of the Texas Railroad Commission for five years, and he served a term as its chair; one of his strengths as a leader was his willingness to listen to others; and WHEREAS, After leaving public office, Mr. Temple worked ever more diligently in behalf of his great passion, the preservation of the natural environment in East Texas; he coordinated with the Conservation Fund and International Paper to protect more than 19,000 acres of the hardwood forest and wetlands known as Boggy Slough, and he was also on the advisory board of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute in Kingsville; in 2014, he received both the Texas Forest Country Silver Bucket Award from the Texas Forest Country Partnership and the R. E. Jackson Conservation Award from the Big Thicket Association, and his myriad accolades also included the Award for Lifetime Conservation Achievement from the Texas Conservation Alliance, the Texas Leopold Conservation Award for the Temple Ranch from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Award for Outstanding Achievement for Neches River Bottomland Conservation from the Houston Audubon Society; and WHEREAS, Mr. Temple was devoted to his family; he shared nearly 45 years of marriage with his wife, Ellen Clarke Temple, and he was the proud father of four children, Whitney, Susan, Hannah, and John; above all, he treasured time spent with his six grandchildren; and WHEREAS, A visionary steward of Texas lands and a distinguished public servant, Buddy Temple left a tremendous legacy for generations to come, and his life was an inspiring example of all the good that one person can accomplish; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Arthur "Buddy" Temple III and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Ellen Clarke Temple; to his children, Whitney Sage Temple, Susan Helen Temple and her husband, Rob Feagin, Hannah Lea Temple and her husband, Christopher Sanders, and John Clark Hurst Jr.; to his grandchildren, Lillian Katherine Duquette, Walter Temple Duquette, Helen Terrell Feagin, Margaret April Grace, Mary Ellen Sanders, and Robert Abney Sanders; to his mother, Mary Denman; to his sister, Charlotte "Chotsy" Temple; and to his many 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Buddy Temple. Ashby Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2256 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 21, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House