By: Gallegos, M.
H.R. No. 406
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor longtime Galena
Park mayor Alvin D. Baggett on his outstanding record of dedicated public service and
exemplary community involvement; and
WHEREAS, Spanning nearly six decades, including 40 years of service in public office,
Mr. Baggett's record of achievement as a member of this Harris County community began in
1936 when he moved to Galena Park from his hometown of Dawson in Navarro County; and
WHEREAS, Then a recent graduate of Blooming Grove High School, Mr. Baggett was
drawn to Galena Park by the prospects of employment in the booming industrial ports on the
Houston Ship Channel; ambitious as well as industrious, he coupled long hard days of work at a
cleaning and pressing shop with hours of diligent study in the evening as he continued his
education by taking night classes at the University of Houston; and
WHEREAS, In 1940, after a brief period of employment with Sheffield Steel Company,
Mr. Baggett embarked on a long and rewarding career in the field of insurance, opening an office
in Galena Park from which he has operated a flourishing business for more than 50 years; and
WHEREAS, Beginning his business career as a life insurance salesman, he met with
outstanding success from the very beginning, earning a promotion to supervisor within his first
year; hired as a field supervisor by the Occidental Life Insurance Company, he remained with
that firm until 1952, when he accepted an offer to join the Texas Life Insurance Company as a
branch manager; and
WHEREAS, He quickly demonstrated his superb managerial ability in this capacity and
was entrusted with ever-increasing responsibilities; within a short time his territory had expanded
far beyond Galena Park and eventually encompassed a large portion of the Texas Gulf Coast and
South Texas; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his business career, he not only achieved a notable degree of
personal success and gained the respect and admiration of his professional colleagues but also
used his position and influence to make significant contributions that enhanced the quality of life
for countless area residents; the strong ties he established with the Galena Park community
inevitably led to his involvement in local civic affairs; and
WHEREAS, Encouraged by friends and supporters who recognized his leadership ability
and his tremendous potential to effect positive changes in the community, he successfully ran for
a seat on the Galena Park city council, on which he served with exceptional dedication for 10
years; and
WHEREAS, In 1962, Mayor W. J. Philpot persuaded the young councilman to run for
mayor and succeed him in the top municipal post; winning his first mayoral campaign,
Mr. Baggett began his tenure by following his predecessor's example and implementing and
continuing many of Mr. Philpot's ideas on how to improve city government services to Galena
Park residents; and
WHEREAS, Opening up city government to input from all segments of the community
and making city hall more responsive to the needs of area residents, he epitomized the ideal of
the elected official as a servant of the people; recognizing his utmost dedication to public service,
the people in turn showed their continued trust and support by reelecting him to 15 subsequent
terms, eventually making Mr. Baggett the longest-serving mayor in Texas history; and
WHEREAS, A mainstay of Galena Park city government for 40 years, he has enjoyed a
similar role in many other areas of community life; he has been a devout member of Galena Park
First Baptist Church for 48 years, 46 of which he has devoted to the congregation as a church
deacon, and as a longtime member of the Galena Park Rotary Club he has achieved notable
distinction among his peers for his 41 years of perfect attendance; and
WHEREAS, In addition to maintaining a remarkable attendance record as a Rotary Club
member, he also won praise and recognition serving as the organization's third president; other
civic organizations that have benefited from Mr. Baggett's time, energy, and ability include the
Galena Park Chamber of Commerce, the Harris County Mayors' and Councilmen's Association,
the Gulf Coast Transportation Authority, and the Texas Municipal League, all of which he has
served in leadership positions through the years; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Galena Park are deeply indebted to Mr. Baggett for his many
years of outstanding service, and it gives the members of this body great pleasure to join them in
a well-deserved tribute to one of the community's most highly esteemed citizens; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas Legislature hereby
commend Alvin David Baggett on his exceptional 30-year tenure as mayor of Galena Park and
on his many contributions to the betterment of the community during a long and distinguished
public service career; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Baggett as an
expression of high esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.