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A-2 83rd Legislature - Regular Session 3rd Day
Senator Nelson: Thank you, Mr. President and Members. I was going to talk about
the power corner, actually. Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this
resolution and to congratulate Senator Whitmire on your 40 years of service to your
constituents, to our state, and as Dean, to Members of this Texas Senate. When John
Whitmire was sworn in as a State Representative, Nixon was President, gasoline was
43 cents a gallon, and I was a sixth-grade teacher who never ever imagined serving in
this body. When I joined the Senate, Senator Whitmire had already served exactly the
number of years that I have served in the Texas Senate, and I'm the longest-serving
Republican in this body. Now, he's the longest-serving Democrat, as you know. The
Dean, sometimes, Mr. President, does call this his power corner, but, Dean, I thought
that I should explain to everybody the real reason that I'm seated back here. When we
chose where we were going to sit, it was believed that my background as a mother and
as a teacher might help keep Senator Whitmire in line. It didn't work, although
sometimes when he grabs the mic and he's very passionate, I still find myself
reminding him to use appropriate language. Instead, it was Senator Whitmire who
became a teacher to me. And this seating assignment would lead to a friendship so
treasured that the entire Nelson clan considers Senator Whitmire a part of our family.
Some of you had an opportunity to meet my dad when he was alive. He was a World
War II veteran, and he loved to come down here and watch the Legislature. In one of
my early years, I was really stressing over how to vote on an issue, and my dad said,
You need to go ask Whitmire, he's got a good head on his shoulders. Now, coming
from Dad that was the highest compliment that one could give. And, most of you
know that my house was broken into over the holidays. My grandson found out about
it, and first thing he said to me, Senator, was, Did you call Senator Whitmire, because
my grandson knows that nobody in this state knows more about criminal justice than
Senator Whitmire. I get to listen to the conversations when Senator Whitmire comes
on the floor with the pages back here. And he always makes it a point to ask them
their name. He asks them where they went to school. He helps them appreciate the
magnificence of this building and takes the time to really interact with them and make
them feel welcomed. I've seen how wonderful he is with his smart, beautiful
daughters, Whitney and Sarah. There is no prouder papa than Senator Whitmire.
Now, sitting back here in the Dean's power corner, I have learned a lot about John
Whitmire. I have certainly come to appreciate his sharp sense of humor, which is, it
provides much-needed laugh therapy sometimes when things get real tough on those
tough days. I've also had a close-up seat to some of the best and most passionate
speeches I've ever heard on the floor of this Senate. He is a champion for those who 0
don't have a lot of champions in their lives, for troubled youth and victims of crime
and even members of the chain gang, Senator Whitmire. Now, from time to time,
Senator Whitmire and I disagree. And when that happens, I often hear him utter my
most favorite Whitmireisms, and he'll lean over and he'll say, Senator, if you and I
agree on everything, that means one of us is not representing our district. That's what
makes John Whitmire the perfect Dean. He's a Democrat; I'm a Republican. He
recognizes that we both love Texas and, like everyone on this floor, are here to make a
difference. When Senator Whitmire speaks as the Dean, he speaks for this entire body.
He loves this institution, and that's not just the Senators but all the staff who support
us. And he knows, he respects our Senate's traditions. He knows that when we come
