H.C.R. No. 4

	HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The Honorable Walter David Counts Jr. of Knox City,
	a former state representative and brevet brigadier general in the
	Texas Army National Guard, passed away on August 18, 2023, at the
	age of 87; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Munday on July 14, 1936, David Counts was the
	son of Walter and Alma Counts; he grew up in Rule and attended West
	Texas State College and North Texas State College; in 1953, he
	joined the Texas Army National Guard, and over the course of 32
	years in the military, he attained the rank of colonel;
	then-governor George W. Bush promoted him to brevet brigadier
	general following his retirement; among other honors, he received
	the General K. L. Bailey Award for heroism and the Minute Man Award
	for outstanding service; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Counts wed the love of his life, the former Mary
	Mullins, on July 15, 1956; they became the proud parents of two
	children, Patti and David, and through the years, their family grew
	to include four grandchildren, Seth, Jennifer, Sarah, and Matthew,
	as well as eight great-grandchildren; and
	WHEREAS, Settling in Knox City, Mr. Counts established Counts
	Insurance Agency in 1960; he operated the business for 35 years, and
	he also founded Counts Real Estate; in addition, he owned a
	bookkeeping and tax service for a decade and grew wheat and cotton
	in Knox, Stonewall, and Haskell Counties; he served as vice
	president and director of Rolling Plains Well Service, as president
	and chair of Chap Operating Company, as director and treasurer of
	Perry Pump Service, and as a director of both First Bank of West
	Texas and Western Bancshares; moreover, he was a member of the board
	of the Texas Association of Realtors; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Counts was first elected to the Texas House of
	Representatives in 1988, and for the next 15 years, he worked
	tirelessly in behalf of his constituents, who resided primarily in
	the North Central Plains region; he chaired the Natural Resources
	Committee for a decade, co-chaired the Water Resources Committee,
	and served on many other committees, including the Insurance,
	Redistricting, and State Affairs Committees; he authored a
	constitutional amendment to exempt Masonic lodges from ad valorem
	taxes; and
	WHEREAS, A member of the Masons for more than six decades, Mr.
	Counts was raised to the degree of Master Mason in 1961, and he
	served three separate terms as Worshipful Master; he began his
	association with the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1971 and rose to become
	Most Worshipful Grand Master, the highest office in Texas Masonry,
	in 2008; he gave generously of his time and talents to a host of
	Masonic groups, and he served as treasurer of Masonic Children &
	Family Services of Texas and as a trustee of Scottish Rite for
	Children; the recipient of numerous honors, he was inducted into
	the Masonic Grand Lodge Library and Museum of Texas Sam Houston Hall
	of Fame and served as a patron of the library and museum; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Counts also contributed to the greater community
	through his longtime service as a director of the Knox City Chamber
	of Commerce and as a member of the Knox City Lions Club; he
	benefited higher education as a member of several boards, including
	the development board of Hardin-Simmons University; he was a valued
	congregant of First Baptist Church of Knox City and gave generously
	of his time and resources to Gideons International; and
	WHEREAS, David Counts lived a life that was rich in public
	service and in personal and professional achievements, and his
	contributions will be remembered and admired for years to come;
	now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas,
	4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Walter David
	Counts Jr. and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
	family: to his wife, Mary Counts; to his children, Patti Counts
	Holmes and her husband, Steve, and David Counts III and his wife,
	Jill; to his grandchildren, Seth Barnett and his wife, Jenni,
	Jennifer McCann and her husband, Josh, Sarah Grace and her husband,
	Jacob, and Matthew Counts and his wife, Allie; to his eight
	great-grandchildren; to his sister, Cheryl Robinson, and her
	husband, Bobby; and to his many other relatives and friends; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
	David Counts.
	Craddick
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
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