TITLE: In memory of former Plano mayor James Wyatt Edwards.

SUMMARY: In memory of former Plano mayor James Wyatt Edwards.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The city of Plano lost an admired civic leader with the passing of former mayor James Wyatt Edwards on May 13, 2011, at the age of 73; and WHEREAS, Born on September 6, 1937, Jim Edwards was the son of Margaret and Wyatt Edwards; he served two terms as mayor beginning in 1978 and worked with H. Ross Perot to bring the headquarters of EDS, JC Penney, and Frito-Lay to Plano; in addition, he played key roles in the approval of Collin Creek Mall, the extension of the Dallas North Tollway, and the securing of funds for the Bush Tollway; he was the first chair of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit board and was a founding board member of the Collin County Community College District; moreover, he served as director of external relations for the nonprofit organization Heart of a Champion and held numerous other leadership roles; his most recent initiative, the "Changing Hearts Project," benefited combat veterans and their families; and WHEREAS, Mr. Edwards enjoyed a long career in higher education administration; early in his career, he headed the accounting department at Texas Christian University, and he went on to become executive vice president of Dallas Baptist University, head of the MBA program at Southern Methodist University, and president and chancellor of William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; he was active in politics as well, working on the George W. Bush campaign in 2000 and the Mike Huckabee campaign in 2008, and he was a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention; and WHEREAS, Jim Edwards was dedicated to the betterment of his community, and although he will be deeply missed, he leaves behind a legacy of achievement that his loved ones can remember with pride; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of James Wyatt Edwards and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife of 52 years, Imogene Edwards; to his children, Randy Edwards and his wife, Leah, Jamye Ferguson and her husband, Lee, and Allison Travis and her husband, Mike; to his six grandchildren, Daniel, Abby, and Sarah Ferguson, Audrey and Natalie Edwards, and Grace Travis; to his sister, Janice Knox, and her husband, Sandy; to his brother, Pat Edwards, and his wife, Nancy; to his 15 nieces and nephews; 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 James Wyatt Edwards. Madden Laubenberg Taylor of Collin Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2175 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 26, 2011. Chief Clerk of the House