[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. THOMAS LESTER BRATCHER

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. BILL FLORES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Thomas 
Lester Bratcher, who resided near Cranfills Gap in Bosque County, 
Texas. He passed on November 3 at the age of 70.
  Dr. Bratcher was born in Ft. Worth, Texas on July 9, 1942. He 
graduated from Eastern Hills High School in Ft. Worth and went on to 
receive a Bachelors of Science in mathematics from Arlington State 
College, and a Master of Science in statistics and Ph.D. in statistics 
from Southern Methodist University.
  Dr. Bratcher would go on to teach statistics at the University of 
Louisiana in Lafayette. Years later he moved to central Texas to teach 
at Baylor University, where he specialized in Bayesian Methods. For the 
past 20 years he directed the Ph.D. program in statistics at Baylor. 
Dr. Bratcher was a founder and primary organizer of the Conference of 
Texas Statisticians which has been meeting now for 32 years.
  Dr. Bratcher was an active participant in numerous causes, including 
the Arts Council and has been serving as Bosque County Republican 
Chairman since 2009. As Chairman, he was staunch supporter of 
conservative ideals and helped get city, county, state, and federal 
officials elected.
  Dr. Bratcher was a member and past president of the Council of Texas 
Statisticians, a member and past president of the Southern Regional 
Council on Statistics, and a member of the American Statistical 
Association and the Sigma Xi Society. He was the author of numerous 
scholarly publications.
  Dr. Bratcher is survived by his loving wife, Nancy, mother, Laura 
Margaret and his loving children, grandchildren, and great-
grandchildren.
  His loving wife said it best when she wrote that ``his legacy--in all 
its many expressions of love, courage, integrity, principle, and 
unbridled passion for all he did--is with us always.''
  Today I pay tribute to a humble man who served Bosque County with 
honor and great respect. I know I am not alone as I say thank you, Dr. 
Thomas Bratcher, for all that you have done for the Bosque County 
community.
  Mrs. Bratcher and her family remain in our prayers.

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