Beto O'Rourke: “I want to thank my colleague from Indiana for yielding to me and for his support of this bill. I would also like to…”

“I want to thank my colleague from Indiana for yielding to me and for his support of this bill. I would also like to thank my colleague from Illinois for his kind words of support in recognizing the accomplishments of Robert Ewing Thomason, referred to as ``R.E.'' or ``Ewing'' by his friends in El Paso. Judge Thomason was truly the best among us, somebody who dedicated his life to public service and to serving others, and someone who really distinguished the community that I am so honored to serve, El Paso, Texas. He was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1920 and, remarkably, for an El Pasoan and, really, for anyone in the State of Texas, in his second term only, he was elected by his fellow House members to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the State of Texas. This is an accomplishment to which no other El Pasoan since has ever been able to rise. This truly was the high-water mark, at least in State politics, for an El Pasoan to reach. There he distinguished himself with his leadership and with his dedication, not just to our community, but to the State of Texas. He then served as the mayor of El Paso, Texas, from 1927 to 1930, where he both reflected and truly guided the growth of one of the great American cities and, certainly, the greatest Southwestern city at the time. He was responsible for attracting industry, promoting local businesses, and developing the first municipal airport in El Paso, Texas.…”