Bill Text: TX SR559 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Mary O. Horn.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-12 - Reported enrolled [SR559 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR559-Enrolled.html
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In Memory | ||
of | ||
Mary Horn | ||
WHEREAS, Denton County lost a trailblazing civic leader | ||
with the passing of former county judge Mary O. Horn on April 21, | ||
2023, at the age of 77; and | ||
WHEREAS, The daughter of Lieutenant Commander | ||
Dr. O. W. Roberts and Mary Ann Roberts, the former Mary Roberts | ||
was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, on June 28, 1945; after studying | ||
at Mankato State College and earning certification from the | ||
Minnesota School of Business, she began working for Braniff | ||
International Airways in Dallas as a flight attendant; she rose | ||
to become the only woman among the top executives at the airline | ||
before starting her own business in 1982; and | ||
WHEREAS, On May 6, 1967, she married James Nathan "Jim" | ||
Horn, and they settled in Denton, where they raised two children, | ||
Jennifer and Jim; the couple founded the Denton County Republican | ||
Party at their kitchen table in 1972, and Judge Horn campaigned | ||
energetically for her husband in his successful campaign for a | ||
seat in the Texas House of Representatives; in 1993, she became | ||
the first woman to win election as Denton County tax | ||
assessor-collector, and nine years later, she became the | ||
county's first female judge; during an era of phenomenal growth, | ||
she worked tirelessly to maintain a low tax rate while improving | ||
efficiency and providing a high level of service to residents; | ||
she increased budget reserves, paving the way for a AAA bond | ||
rating, modernized the county's taxing systems, and made motor | ||
vehicle registration more convenient by creating an online | ||
system; in 2004 and 2008, voters approved two bond packages, and | ||
she leveraged $335 million in local funds to bring over $3 | ||
billion for road improvements and construction, expansion, or | ||
renovation of county buildings; she retired in 2018, following | ||
four consecutive terms, as the longest-serving county judge in | ||
Denton County history; and | ||
WHEREAS, Judge Horn shared her expertise in leadership | ||
roles with a host of local and state organizations, and she was | ||
vice chair of the Texas Workforce Development Board; she served | ||
many terms as president of the Denton Republican Women's Club, | ||
and she was the Texas Federation of Republican Women's 1988 | ||
honoree; and | ||
WHEREAS, Above all, Judge Horn was devoted to her family, | ||
which grew to include eight grandchildren, Michael, Elle, Knox, | ||
Francie, Houston, Olive, Morgan, and Ashton; her greatest joy was | ||
spending time with them, whether attending their athletic events | ||
or reading stories, singing songs, and making up silly games; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mary Horn broke down barriers and skillfully | ||
guided Denton County during a transformative period, and | ||
although she will be deeply missed, her exceptional | ||
contributions will continue to resonate in the years to come; | ||
now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th | ||
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable | ||
Mary O. Horn and extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn her | ||
passing; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be | ||
prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns | ||
this day, it do so in memory of Mary Horn. | ||
Springer, Parker | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on May 12, 2023, by a | ||
rising vote. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |