Bill Text: TX SR172 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Kenneth Louis Koock.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-02-15 - Reported enrolled [SR172 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR172-Enrolled.html
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| In Memory | ||
| of | ||
| Kenneth Louis Koock | ||
| WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and | ||
| commemorates the life of Kenneth Louis Koock, who died on | ||
| December 19, 2022, at the age of 86; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born on May 5, 1936, Kenneth Louis Koock was | ||
| raised at Green Pastures, his family's historic homestead near | ||
| downtown Austin; there, Ken and his siblings experienced the joys | ||
| and hard work of growing up on a farm and learned the values of | ||
| acceptance, kindness, and compassion instilled in them by their | ||
| parents; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Ken graduated from Saint Edward's High School and | ||
| attended Georgetown University; he completed his studies at The | ||
| University of Texas at Austin, and he served as a Merchant Marine | ||
| and went on to serve with distinction in the United States Army; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Ken took over the management of Green Pastures, | ||
| the family-run restaurant his parents had converted the farm and | ||
| homestead into in 1946; the restaurant had always operated under | ||
| the principle of welcoming people of all races and religions, | ||
| even during the segregation era, and Ken proudly carried on this | ||
| practice and philosophy in his business as well as throughout his | ||
| life; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Ken and his longtime business partner, Lee | ||
| Buslett, ran the restaurant with charm and attention to detail, | ||
| and their combined efforts and expertise in both business and the | ||
| culinary arts led Green Pastures to earn national acclaim; the | ||
| restaurant attracted many loyal regular customers as well as such | ||
| notable guests as presidents, royalty, celebrities, and heads of | ||
| state; Ken's success and enjoyment of the business inspired him | ||
| to open a number of other popular restaurants in later years; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Ken was active in his community and enjoyed a wide | ||
| variety of hobbies and activities; a skilled pie-maker, golfer, | ||
| and pilot, Ken served as president of the South Austin Rotary | ||
| Club and the Texas Aviation Association, and he successfully | ||
| advocated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to | ||
| build small-plane hangars at Austin-Bergstrom International | ||
| Airport; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A devoted father to his daughters, Kathryn and | ||
| Molly, and a loving husband to his wife of 27 years, Carol Ann | ||
| Koock, Ken was also blessed with two stepsons, John and Chris, | ||
| and with eight grandchildren and a great-granddaughter, who were | ||
| a source of much pride and joy to him; Ken was a remarkable and | ||
| inspiring person whose generous spirit and positive outlook | ||
| defined his interactions with people from all walks of life; he | ||
| leaves behind memories that will long be cherished by his family | ||
| and friends and by the countless others who were privileged to | ||
| share in his life; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th | ||
| Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
| family of Kenneth Louis Koock; 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 Kenneth L. Koock. | ||
| Eckhardt | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on February 15, 2023, | ||
| by a rising vote. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
