SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 372
	In Memory
	of
	Robert Landis Armstrong
	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins Texans
	across the state in mourning the loss of Robert Landis Armstrong,
	who died March 1, 2015, at the age of 82; and
	WHEREAS, Bob Armstrong served the citizens of Texas with
	distinction over the course of a decades-long career in public
	service, during which he played an essential role in dramatically
	increasing the revenues of the Permanent School Fund and the
	Permanent University Fund and in doubling the size of the state's
	park system; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was born and raised in Austin; he
	earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from The University
	of Texas, and from 1953 to 1955, he served the nation as an
	officer in the United States Navy; and
	WHEREAS, He began his career by serving as a member of the
	Texas House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970; he was one of
	the first legislators in the state to focus on environmental
	issues and played a significant role in the creation of the
	Interagency Council on Natural Resources, the Texas Parks
	Advisory Committee, and the Texas Conservation Foundation; and
	WHEREAS, During his tenure in the legislature, he also
	helped establish the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, and
	he carried the constitutional amendment allowing for the
	investment of the Permanent University Fund in stocks, which
	enhanced the university's ability to invest wisely and increase
	its revenue; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was elected land commissioner in
	1970; as land commissioner, he managed the state's 22.5 million
	acres of public land and its mineral ownership, and he served in
	that capacity until 1982; under his leadership, the state put the
	management of public lands in an environmental context and
	continued to hold regular, successful lease sales despite the
	controversies that arose between environmentalists and oil and
	gas producers; and
	WHEREAS, He continued to support and promote education
	during his tenure as land commissioner by raising the oil and gas
	royalties on state lands, which allowed the Permanent School Fund
	to more than triple its assets and the Permanent University Fund
	to experience dramatic growth; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was appointed to the Parks and
	Wildlife Commission in 1985; while serving on the commission, he
	was able to help fulfill his longtime goal of purchasing land for
	the 212,000-acre Big Bend State Park, which doubled the size of
	the state's park acreage; he went on to serve as natural
	resources and energy advisor to Governor Ann Richards and as
	assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management in the
	United States Department of the Interior; and
	WHEREAS, He received numerous honors over the course of his
	distinguished career, including the Texas Nature Conservancy's
	Lifetime Achievement Award, the Field and Stream Conservation
	Award, and the Chevron Conservation Award; he was the founder of
	the Austin Chapter of the Sierra Club and a founding board member
	of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation; and
	WHEREAS, Bob Armstrong was a man of courage, determination,
	and vision who served the state and nation with distinction, and
	his leadership and countless accomplishments will not be
	forgotten; and
	WHEREAS, He was devoted to his wife, Linda Aaker and to his
	four children and two grandchildren, and he leaves behind memories
	that will be treasured forever by all who were privileged to
	share in his life; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
	Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
	family of Robert Landis Armstrong; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
	his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
	Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
	memory of Robert Landis Armstrong.
	Watson
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on March 16, 2015, by a
		rising vote.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate