Bill Text: TX HR5 | 2013 | 83rd Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of energy industry pioneer and philanthropist George Phydias Mitchell of Galveston.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-08-06 - Reported enrolled [HR5 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR5-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 5 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost an admired philanthropist | ||
| and energy industry giant with the passing of George Phydias | ||
| Mitchell of Galveston on July 26, 2013, at the age of 94; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The son of Greek immigrants, Mr. Mitchell was born | ||
| in Galveston in 1919; he worked his way through Texas A&M | ||
| University, selling candy and stationery and running a tailoring | ||
| and laundry business; after graduating first in his class with a | ||
| degree in petroleum engineering and geology, he served his country | ||
| in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, attaining the | ||
| rank of captain; and | ||
| WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan joined a newly formed wildcatting | ||
| company in 1949 as a consulting geologist and engineer; he became a | ||
| partner in the firm and was then named president in 1959; under his | ||
| skillful leadership as chair and chief executive officer, Mitchell | ||
| Energy & Development Corporation evolved into one of the nation's | ||
| largest independent oil and gas producers; the company was listed | ||
| on the New York Stock Exchange before its merger in 2002 with Devon | ||
| Energy Corporation; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Recognized as the father of hydraulic fracturing, | ||
| Mr. Mitchell pioneered drilling and completion technologies that | ||
| transformed the energy industry; for nearly two decades, he | ||
| overcame setbacks and ignored naysayers while perfecting methods of | ||
| extracting natural gas from the Barnett Shale formation in | ||
| commercial quantities; his foresight and dogged determination | ||
| engendered an industry revolution that has vastly increased global | ||
| supply and enhanced the energy security of North America; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell also enjoyed tremendous success as a | ||
| real estate developer of rare ambition and imagination; in 1974, he | ||
| established The Woodlands, a 28,000-acre master-planned community | ||
| designed to preserve East Texas forest and other natural resources | ||
| while integrating mixed-income residential development with an | ||
| employment center; the city today is home to about 100,000 people | ||
| and a number of corporations, and it is recognized for the beauty of | ||
| its protected green space, which represents a quarter of its total | ||
| area; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The devoted father of 10, Mr. Mitchell joined with | ||
| his wife, Cynthia Woods Mitchell, to help make the world a better | ||
| place for future generations; in 1978, the couple created the | ||
| Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation to support innovative, | ||
| sustainable solutions for human and environmental problems; since | ||
| its inception, the foundation has distributed or pledged more than | ||
| $400 million to a variety of worthy causes, including the promotion | ||
| of sustainability science and clean energy, Cook's Branch | ||
| Conservancy, and the Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and | ||
| Astronomy at Texas A&M; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell became the most generous benefactor in | ||
| the history of his alma mater, with donations that included the land | ||
| for the university's campus in Galveston; in addition, he spent | ||
| tens of millions rebuilding his hometown, funding the restoration | ||
| of the historic Strand District and resurrecting a long-dormant | ||
| Mardi Gras tradition that now brings 500,000 visitors to the city | ||
| annually; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In his later years, Mr. Mitchell focused | ||
| increasingly on charitable endeavors; he made the Giving Pledge, a | ||
| commitment promoted by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, | ||
| making public the intent he and his late wife had formed to donate | ||
| the majority of their wealth to philanthropic initiatives; | ||
| moreover, he advocated powerfully for tighter regulation of and | ||
| safer practices in the conduct of hydraulic fracturing; and | ||
| WHEREAS, George Mitchell left an indelible imprint on the | ||
| nation as a true visionary of the energy industry, and through his | ||
| exceptional dedication to environmental protection, social equity, | ||
| and economic prosperity, he made important contributions that will | ||
| long continue to resonate in the Lone Star State and beyond; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | ||
| Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the | ||
| remarkable life of George P. Mitchell and extend sincere | ||
| condolences to his loved ones; 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 George | ||
| Phydias Mitchell. | ||
| Eiland | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 5 was adopted by the House on August | ||
| 5, 2013, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
