TITLE: In memory of Bob Barton of Kyle.

SUMMARY: In memory of Bob Barton of Kyle.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a widely known newspaperman, former state legislator, and strong advocate of social justice with the death of Robert C. Barton, Jr., of Kyle on January 19, 2013, at the age of 82; and WHEREAS, The son of Robert C. Barton and Marietta Fly Barton, Bob Barton was born on April 5, 1930, in Austin and raised in Buda; answering his nation's call to duty, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany; after returning, he earned a teaching degree from Texas State University; although he went on to other pursuits, he remained an avid supporter of education throughout his life and helped form the Hays Consolidated Independent School District; and WHEREAS, In 1952, Mr. Barton and close friend Moe Johnson purchased the Kyle News,which eventually developed into the countywide award-winning paper Hays County Citizen;he sold the Citizen in 1978 and established the publication now known as the Hays Free Press,which has also won regional and statewide accolades; throughout his years in the newspaper business, Mr. Barton mentored many journalists and was a strong defender of free speech, while encouraging respect and civility; and WHEREAS, Mr. Barton backed the struggle of African Americans, Hispanics, and women to gain full participation in the political process, and he was among those who worked to promote equal treatment for Hispanics in the San Marcos school system in the 1960s and 1970s; he was a lifelong Democrat, and the bookstore he opened with his wife in San Marcos, the Colloquium, was often a hub of political activity; he served one term in the Texas House of Representatives after he was elected to represent Blanco, Hays, and Llano Counties and part of Travis County in 1982; and WHEREAS, Mr. Barton loved to delve into the history of Central Texas and, in 1998, produced a history of Hays County in periodical form; moreover, he devoted the last several years of his life to historical research and continued to write occasional articles for the Hays Free Press;and WHEREAS, A stalwart advocate of civil rights and a man of deep convictions, Bob Barton will be deeply missed, but his vision, idealism, and kindness will forever inspire all who had the good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Robert C. Barton, Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Wynette; to his sons, Jefferson Word Barton and his wife, Cyndy, and David Gilbreath Slaughter Barton and his wife, Jolana; and to his grandchildren, Zachary Alexander, Mary Rose Bozena, Katrina Wynette, and Jakub Sterling Adam; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bob Barton. Isaac Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 525 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 14, 2013. Chief Clerk of the House