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

89(R) HR 863 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.R. No. 863

R E S O L U T I O N

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

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. 863 was unanimously adopted by a rising

vote of the House on May 13, 2025.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House