[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 87 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF GOVERNOR BOB BULLOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                            HON. JIM TURNER

                                of texas

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                           HON. LLOYD DOGGETT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 18, 1999

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, my colleagues and I and the 
State of Texas lost a legend. Lt. Governor Bob Bullock passed away at 
the age of 69.
  Before coming to Congress, we served with Governor Bullock as members 
of the Texas State Senate. No Texan stood taller than Bob Bullock in 
his knowledge of Texas Government, his influence over the affairs of 
Texas and his deep commitment to our State.
  His love for our state was legendary. Each time he spoke of Texas, 
the feeling of his pride was very clear. He always said, ``I have no 
agenda but what's good for Texas. And I have no love, but Texas.''
  Governor Bullock was born in Hillsboro, Texas on July 10, 1929. He 
was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1956 and was 
reelected in 1958. While still in the Texas Legislature, Governor 
Bullock enrolled in law school. He earned a law degree from Baylor 
University as well as a bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University. 
He was also a graduate of Hill College in his hometown.
  Governor Bullock also served as an assistant attorney general, 
heading up the first anti-trust and consumer protection division in 
that office. He won several historic cases including a multi-million 
dollar recovery from five large drug companies that conspired to fix 
prices. Bob Bullock held other positions in Texas State government, 
serving on the Texas Historical Commission, on the staff of former 
Governor Preston Smith, and as the Texas Secretary of State.
  In 1974, Bullock was elected Comptroller of Public Accounts. He would 
serve four terms as the state's chief tax collector. His tenure as 
Comptroller was marked by innovation and efficiency. He became the 
first elected state official to adopt an equal employment opportunity 
program. He was among the first elected officials to use computer 
technology in state government to cut costs and improve productivity. 
He developed a Taxpayer Bill of Rights to guarantee that Texas 
taxpayers were treated with fairness, courtesy and common sense.
  In 1990, Bob Bullock was elected Lieutenant Governor, a job 
considered the most powerful in the State of Texas. In this position, 
he presided over the Texas Senate, made committee appointments, sat on 
key government boards, and controlled the flow of legislation in the 
Senate.
  As the presiding officer of the Texas Senate, Governor Bullock 
overhauled the ethics laws in an effort to restore public confidence in 
state government. He created the Texas Performance Review to analyze 
spending at state agencies and recommend cost-saving alternatives. He 
pushed through a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval 
before a state personal income tax could be enacted and if the voters 
approved the tax, requiring the money be earmarked for education.
  Governor Bullock is survived by his wife, Jan; a son, Robert D. 
(Bobby) Bullock, Jr. of Austin; a daughter and her husband, Lindy and 
Phil Ward of Austin; a grandson, Grant Bullock Robinson of Austin; a 
stepdaughter and her husband, Kimberly and Jeff Ader of Houston; and a 
brother and his wife, Tom and Jane Bullock of Brenham. He is also 
survived by several nieces and nephews. Two sisters, Sara Read and 
Louisa Bond preceded him in death. We would like to offer our sincere 
condolences to Jan and the rest of his family.
  Governor Bullock's accomplishments were shaped by his desire to make 
Texas the best state in the union. Governor Bob Bullock always ended 
his speeches with, ``God bless Texas.'' Today, we would like to add, 
``God bless Bob Bullock.''

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