84R19721 BPG-D
	By: Craddick	H.R. No. 2035

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The untimely death of Jefferson Jones Baskin of
	Austin on March 25, 2015, at the age of 48, has brought a great loss
	to the family and friends of this esteemed Texan; and
	WHEREAS, Born to Pat and Joan Baskin in Midland on June 21,
	1966, JJ Baskin completed his bachelor's degree in political
	science at Trinity University; he went on to earn a master's degree
	from the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs at The
	University of Texas at Austin; after starting his career in the
	office of Texas State Comptroller Bob Bullock, he was hired as one
	of the first employees in the successful attorney general campaign
	of Dan Morales; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Baskin was primarily a Democrat, but he worked
	in behalf of political campaigns for public servants in either
	party who represented his values, and particularly his support for
	education; he was a director of the nonpartisan organizations
	Public Agenda and Texas Lyceum, and in 2013, he co-chaired the
	latter's first-ever conference dedicated to philanthropy; one of
	the state's leading experts on philanthropy, he lectured at dozens
	of conferences and professional events across the state and nation;
	he also served as an executive-on-loan to San Antonio Mayor Julian
	Castro's SA2020 for philanthropy as well as for education; and
	WHEREAS, Deeply committed to education, Mr. Baskin was
	employed for five years at the Southwest Educational Development
	Laboratory; he was copresident of the PTA at Mathews Elementary
	School, and he was president of the Austin Public Library
	Foundation; through both the Austin Community Foundation and his
	personal nonprofit organization, Education Capital, he led the
	annual report and survey efforts for the Texas Education Foundation
	Network; he was a Trinity University Associate and a member of the
	Texas Exes Public Affairs Committee and the Coalition for
	Excellence in Higher Education; in 2011, the Texas Ex-Student
	Association named him the recipient of its prestigious Top Hand
	Award; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Baskin was sustained by a strong faith; he was a
	lifelong Presbyterian and an elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church
	of Austin, where he served as clerk of the session; for many years,
	he was a trustee of Mo Ranch, a Presbyterian retreat center, and he
	chaired its strategic planning committee; and
	WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Mr. Baskin shared a fulfilling
	relationship with his wife, Joy, and he took great pride in his
	sons, Ben and Judge; his warmth, wit, and kindness brought him a
	host of friends, and he found great satisfaction in helping to
	connect like-minded people; when he was diagnosed with cancer in
	2014, his large circle of admirers established JJ's Fight Club to
	rally him in his valiant battle against the disease, and the group
	now has members in all 50 states and well over a dozen countries;
	and
	WHEREAS, Though it is impossible to gauge the full effect of
	one person's life, some individuals leave their unmistakable mark
	on the world as they move through it, and the selfless contributions
	of JJ Baskin will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough
	to know him; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jefferson Jones
	"JJ" Baskin and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
	family: to his wife, Joy Surratt Baskin; to his sons, Ben Baskin and
	Judge Baskin; to his mother, Joan Ragsdale Baskin; to his sister,
	Becky Baskin Ferguson, and her husband, Doug; to his brothers, Bo
	Baskin and Steve Ragsdale Baskin and his wife, Susie; and to his
	many other relatives and friends; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jefferson
	Jones Baskin.