In memory of former State Representative Billy Len Arnold of Grand Prairie.

89(R) HR 806 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.R. No. 806

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The citizens of Grand Prairie bid farewell to a

respected elected official, educator, and civic leader with the

passing of former State Representative Billy Len Arnold on

November 27, 2023, at the age of 97; and

WHEREAS, Bill Arnold was born on August 17, 1926, in the small

farming community of Peerless in Hopkins County; he was raised by

his mother, Bessie Hope Evans Arnold, his grandparents, John and

Agnes Evans, and his uncles, Marvin, Bascom, and Sam Evans, and he

grew up with the companionship of four siblings, Jeff, Lasca, Mary

Jo, and Hellen; he was a member of the first graduating class at

North Hopkins School in 1944; answering his nation's call to duty,

he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the light cruiser U.S.S.

Columbia
in the South Pacific during World War II; following his

honorable discharge, he earned a degree from East Texas State

Teachers College, and he later received a master's degree in

education; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Arnold began his teaching career in Tyler, and

in 1954, he relocated to Grand Prairie; after several years in the

classroom, he was promoted to principal of an elementary school and

later a junior high; in 1968, he became the assistant

superintendent for business administration for the Grand Prairie

Independent School District, and he retired in 1986 as deputy

superintendent; throughout his tenure, he was active in a number of

professional associations, including the Texas Association of

School Business Officials, which he led as president for a term; and

WHEREAS, First elected to the Texas House of Representatives

in 1986, Mr. Arnold worked tirelessly in behalf of his constituents

in House District 106; during his three terms in office, he served

on numerous committees, including Elections, Public Safety, House

Administration, Public Education, and Rules and Resolutions, and he

was vice chair of the Public Safety Committee during the 71st and

72nd Legislatures; he concluded his tenure in January 1993,

following six years of exemplary public service; and

WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Arnold was involved in

the Optimist Club as well as the Grand Prairie Rotary Club, where he

served as president and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow; he also

held the office of president of the Grand Prairie Chamber of

Commerce, served on the board of the YMCA, and contributed to a

number of Boy Scouts of America fundraising drives; among his many

accolades, he was named Citizen of the Year, and in 2002, Grand

Prairie ISD named Bill Arnold Middle School in his honor; and

WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Arnold enjoyed the love

and support of his wife, Laura, with whom he shared a rewarding

marriage that spanned more than seven decades; he took great pride

in their two sons, Bryan and Brent, and over the years, he had the

pleasure of seeing his family grow to include five grandchildren,

Clint, Kathryn, Walt, Ginny, and Tessa, and six

great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Harrison, Jack, Charlie, Maggie,

and Will; a man of deep faith, he was a devoted congregant of First

Baptist Church Grand Prairie, where he served as a deacon, Sunday

school teacher, and member of pastoral search committees; and

WHEREAS, Although Bill Arnold is deeply missed by those he

left behind, his life stands as an outstanding example of civic

engagement, and his contributions will continue to be remembered

and admired in the 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 Billy

Len Arnold and extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn his

passing; 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 Bill

Arnold.

Turner

Burrows

Guerra

Morales Shaw

Alders

Guillen

Morgan

Allen

Harless

Muñoz

Anchía

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

Rodríguez 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

Gámez

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

González of Dallas

Moody

Wilson

González of El Paso

Morales of Harris

Wu

Goodwin

Morales of Maverick

Zwiener

______________________________

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 806 was unanimously adopted by a rising

vote of the House on April 23, 2025.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House