Bill Text: TX SCR7 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 4th Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of James Ratliff "Buzz" Hurt Sr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-12-18 - Signed by the Governor [SCR7 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SCR7-Enrolled.html
| S.C.R. No. 7 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The life of an admired rancher, businessman, and | ||
| civic leader drew to a close with the passing of James Ratliff Hurt | ||
| Sr. of Ector County on November 2, 2023, at the age of 93; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The son of Mary Ratliff Hurt and Sam Fuqua Hurt Sr., | ||
| "Buzz" Hurt was born on April 29, 1930, in Austin; he and his | ||
| brother, Sam, grew up on the ranch founded by their grandparents in | ||
| northeastern Ector County, and it remained his home for most of his | ||
| life; after graduating from Odessa High School, he attended The | ||
| University of Texas at Austin until his father's death in 1950, when | ||
| he returned home to manage Ratliff Ranch; he played an active role | ||
| in developing the petroleum reserves under his land and ran | ||
| numerous companies, among them Z-Bar Ranch and Cattle Company, | ||
| Ratliff Ranch Development Company, PBP Fabrication, Incorporated, | ||
| and Eureka Prospecting Company; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Hurt wed Freddie Jean Wheeler in 1950, and they | ||
| were blessed with four children, Mary Helen, Jay, Joe, and Sally; in | ||
| 1983, he married the former Betsy Triplett, and during their | ||
| 39-year marriage, they enjoyed their common interests of travel, | ||
| serving their community, and caring for their many dogs and cats; a | ||
| skilled baker of artisanal bread, Mr. Hurt delighted in giving away | ||
| loaves and teaching others the craft; he was also a talented | ||
| aviator, competing in aerobatics and earning recognition as a | ||
| Master Pilot from the Federal Aviation Administration; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Furthering his family's tradition of civic | ||
| engagement, Mr. Hurt served as a charter member of the Ector County | ||
| Airport board and a trustee of the Ector County Independent School | ||
| District; he volunteered with such organizations as the Sandhills | ||
| Hereford and Quarter Horse Show and Championship Rodeo, the Ector | ||
| County Livestock Show, and Globe of the Great Southwest; in | ||
| addition, he and his family donated land for Ratliff Stadium, | ||
| Ratliff Ranch Golf Links, the Bridge United Methodist Church, City | ||
| of Odessa Fire Station No. 9, and three roadway rights-of-way; he | ||
| was named the 1985 Heritage of Odessa Community Statesman for | ||
| Ranching, and he and Betsy Hurt were named the 1996 Citizens of the | ||
| Year by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce and 2020 Friend of the Arts | ||
| honorees by Odessa Arts; Mr. Hurt was a member of Wesley United | ||
| Methodist Community Group and brought communion bread to the group | ||
| the day before he died; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Deeply dedicated to his family and his community, | ||
| Buzz Hurt earned the lasting respect and admiration of all who were | ||
| privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas, | ||
| 4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of James Ratliff | ||
| Hurt Sr. and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: | ||
| to his wife of 39 years, Betsy Hurt; to his children, Mary Helen | ||
| Johnson, Joseph Stewart Hurt and his wife, Sherry, and Sally Beth | ||
| Bolton and her husband, Toya; to Vickie Hurt, the widow of his son, | ||
| Jay; to his 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; and to his | ||
| other relatives and many 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 | ||
| Buzz Hurt Sr. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 7 was adopted by the Senate | ||
| on November 16, 2023, by a rising vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 7 was adopted by the House | ||
| on December 5, 2023, by a rising vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| Approved: | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
