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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The city of Houston lost a galvanizing leader with |
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the passing of former mayor Bob Lanier on December 20, 2014, at the |
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age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Jesse and Sally Lanier on March 10, 1925, |
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Robert Clayton Lanier grew up in Baytown and served as a naval |
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officer during World War II; he attended the University of New |
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Mexico and subsequently earned a law degree from The University of |
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Texas at Austin; though he enjoyed successful careers in law, |
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banking, and real estate, he ultimately found himself drawn to |
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politics and public service; he chaired the Texas Highway |
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Commission from 1983 to 1987 and then led Houston's Metropolitan |
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Transit Authority for a year; and |
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WHEREAS, First elected mayor in 1991, Mr. Lanier was |
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reelected by an overwhelming majority in 1993 and again in 1995; |
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although the city's adoption of term limits precluded a fourth run |
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for the office, his fierce intelligence, deep knowledge of public |
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policy, and skillful coalition-building allowed him to effect |
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far-reaching changes over the course of his six-year tenure; he |
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fulfilled a campaign promise to increase police patrols and reduce |
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crime, and he made great strides in revitalizing the downtown area |
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and improving infrastructure in disadvantaged neighborhoods; |
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moreover, he was an unyielding champion of ethnic diversity, and |
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toward the end of his final term, he led a successful campaign to |
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save the city's affirmative action program for minority business |
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owners; and |
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WHEREAS, After leaving office, Mr. Lanier remained a force in |
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Houston politics and civic affairs; he hosted fund-raisers, |
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supported charities, and founded the Lanier Public Policy |
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Conference at the University of Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Frequently recognized for his outstanding service |
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to Houston and to the State of Texas, Mr. Lanier received such |
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prestigious accolades as the Hubert Humphrey Civil Rights Award and |
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the Ben Taub Humanitarian Award; he was praised by former |
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presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and Texas Monthly |
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magazine named him one of the top three Texas mayors of the 20th |
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century; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lanier married Elizabeth Grant in 1954, and the |
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couple became the proud parents of five children; after being |
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widowed, Mr. Lanier exchanged wedding vows in 1984 with Elyse Bauer |
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and welcomed into his heart and home her two children; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of tremendous energy and ability, Bob Lanier |
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helped shape the destiny of a great American city through his |
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determination to enhance the quality of life for all its residents, |
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and his enormous contributions as a public servant and civic leader |
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will continue to resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Bob Lanier and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Elyse Lanier; to his children, Robert Clayton Lanier Jr. and his |
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wife, Donna, John Frederic Lanier, Elizabeth Lanier Campbell, Susan |
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Holly Lanier, Scott Augustus Lanier, Courtney Lanier Sarofim and |
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her husband, Christopher, and Kevin Scott Robins and his wife, |
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Sara; to his grandchildren, Robert Clayton Lanier III, Carlton |
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Thomas Lanier, Brent Lanier Campbell, Judith Ann Lanier, Mary |
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Jessica Lanier, Robert Mitchell Lanier, Gillian Stude Sarofim, |
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Louisa Lanier Sarofim, Fayez Shalaby Sarofim II, Eva Elyse Robins, |
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and Rhett Ezekiel Robins; and to his other relatives and many |
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friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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Bob Lanier. |