Texas HR 1129: Congratulating Jasmyne Nelms of St. Mary's Catholic School in Longview on participating in the 2021 TAPPS Track and Field State Championships.

Bill Text

89(R) HR 1129 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  
 H.R. No. 1129

  

  

   

 R E S O L U T I O N

   

        WHEREAS, Diana Destine Sandefer Denman, widely admired as 

  

 "the godmother of the Texas GOP," passed away on April 17, 2025, at 

  

 the age of 91; and

  

        WHEREAS, The daughter of Gilbert and Inez Sandefer, the 

  

 former Diana Sandefer was born in Abilene on February 20, 1934; she 

  

 graduated from George Washington University and embarked on a 

  

 career as a model and actor; her equestrian skills won her parts in 

  

 Western movies, and while filming a commercial, she met her first 

  

 husband, Donald J. Dolen; they became the parents of a daughter, 

  

 Destine; following the untimely death of Mr. Dolen, she was 

  

 fortunate enough to find love a second time with Leroy G. Denman 

  

 Jr.; they married in 1972 and collaborated closely in ranching, 

  

 wildlife conservation, historical preservation, and philanthropy 

  

 until his death in 2015; and

  

        WHEREAS, Mrs. Denman played a key role in making Texas a 

  

 Republican stronghold; having helped found the Young Conservatives 

  

 of Texas, she served for many years on its board of advisors; she 

  

 first voted for Ronald Reagan, when he ran for president of the 

  

 Screen Actors Guild, and sharing his commitment to victory in the 

  

 Cold War, she championed his rise to the presidency; during his 

  

 administration, she served in such roles as co-chair of the Peace 

  

 Corps, election observer, and member of the National Museum 

  

 Services Board; a mentor to countless younger conservatives, she 

  

 was instrumental in many successful campaigns; moreover, she was 

  

 very active in such influential organizations as the Center for 

  

 Security Policy and the Philadelphia Society, which presented her 

  

 with its highest honor, the Baron Award, in 2022; and

  

        WHEREAS, Intensely patriotic, Mrs. Denman was a strong 

  

 supporter of the U.S. armed forces, serving on the board of visitors 

  

 of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation and on 

  

 the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, as well as 

  

 the U.S. Service Academy Nominations Board; her hospitality and 

  

 generosity toward local service members in the San Antonio area won 

  

 her recognition as a charter member of the Fort Sam Houston 

  

 Distinguished Quartermasters; in all her endeavors, she drew 

  

 strength from her Baptist faith; and

  

        WHEREAS, Diana Denman gave freely of her time and talents to 

  

 benefit her community, state, and country, and her contributions 

  

 will continue to resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it

  

        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas 

  

 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Diana Destine 

  

 Sandefer Denman and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her 

  

 family: to her daughter, Destine Denman Holmgreen; to her 

  

 grandsons, Austin and Travis Holmgreen; and to her other relatives 

  

 and many friends; and, be it further

  

        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

  

 prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of 

  

 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Diana 

   

 Denman.

  

   

 LaHood

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Speaker of the House     

  

   

        I certify that H.R. No. 1129 was unanimously adopted by a 

   

 rising vote of the House on May 23, 2025.

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Chief Clerk of the House