[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13989]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF J.R. ``DICK'' BIRDWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL FLORES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 12, 2012

  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to J.R. ``Dick'' 
Birdwell, a proud lifelong Aggie and former City Councilman of College 
Station, Texas, and Mayor and City Councilman of Lake Jackson, Texas. 
He passed on April 4th at the age of 81, only two days after he and his 
beloved wife Joyce celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.
  Dick Birdwell was born in Stephenville and moved to College Station 
in 1945. He graduated from A&M Consolidated High School and went on to 
receive his undergraduate and masters degrees from Texas A&M 
University. While at A&M he was a member of the Ross Volunteers and a 
battalion commander in the Corps of Cadets.
  Birdwell was a longtime Dow Chemical Company employee in Houston; 
Brisbane, Australia; Lake Jackson, Texas; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 
After retiring he returned to College Station.
  Mayor Birdwell served the citizens of Lake Jackson as Councilman and 
Mayor from 1979 to 1982, he also served as Councilman of College 
Station for three terms, serving two consecutive terms from 1988 to 
1992, and a third term from 1996 to 1998.
  While serving on City Council, Birdwell was known to extensively 
study the issues and was not shy about expressing his ideas. He was 
always well prepared for council meetings and showed pride in serving 
his community.
  While residing in College Station, Birdwell would begin to serve his 
community through numerous engineering organizations, as a mediator for 
the Dispute Resolution Agency of Brazos County, as an active member of 
the Rotary Club of College Station, and as a docent for both the George 
Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Texas A&M Sports Museum.
  Even after leaving City Council, Birdwell would take on other city 
causes such as a petition drive that led to freezing property taxes for 
senior citizens and the disabled. He would also serve on the cemetery 
board and as an alternate member of the zoning board of adjustments.
  College Station Mayor Nancy Berry may have said it best when she 
described the passing of Dick Birdwell as ``a phenomenal loss for our 
community.''
  Today I pay tribute to a great Aggie who served College Station with 
honor and great respect. I know I am not alone as I say thank you, Dick 
Birdwell, for all that you have done for the Aggie community.

                          ____________________