Veteran West Texas Lawmaker Dies
AUSTIN (AP) – Veteran Republican state Rep. Buddy West died early Wednesday in an Odessa hospice, a funeral home employee confirmed. He was 71.
West, who served eight terms in the Texas House, had been suffering from kidney problems and began dialysis in December.
A retired safety engineer, West lost his re-election bid during an April runoff with Odessa attorney and former judge Tryon Lewis. His current term expires at the end of the year.
In an interview with The Associated Press shortly after the runoff loss, West took consolation in what the defeat meant.
“We’re really happy because we know we’re going to get to spend a whole lot more time with our grandchildren. We’ve got eight of them now,” he said.
Relations between West and House Speaker Tom Craddick, whose Midland district neighbors West’s, had been icy in recent years. But after West told his House colleagues that he was ill and may not return to Austin at the end of last year’s session, Craddick filed a House resolution honoring West for his service.
“Nadine and I were so sorry to hear of the passing of our friend Buddy West,” Craddick said in a statement. “Buddy was a dedicated public servant to the people of the Permian Basin and to the state of Texas. I had the tremendous honor to serve alongside him and to work with him on issues that affect our closely linked communities of Midland and Odessa.”
West was first elected to the Texas House in 1992 to represent Ector, Andrews, and Winkler counties.
Most recently, he served on the House Environmental Regulation and Law Enforcement committees.
During this year’s bitter primary battle, Lewis criticized West for not having filed any significant bills related to education, illegal immigration, water rights, tax reform or domestic violence.
His campaign pointed to bills passed during the last legislative session for construction of a student center at University of Texas of the Permian Basin and additional money approved for the school during the special session. West supported $100 million appropriated for homeland security and authored unsuccessful legislation to secure health benefits for retired school police officers under the Teacher Retirement System.
“Texas lost a great public servant when Buddy West passed away today,” Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement. “As a dedicated champion for the people of West Texas, Buddy’s legacy will live on in the lives of those he touched through his tireless efforts to make Odessa, West Texas and the entire state of Texas a better place.”
Perry ordered flags at the Capitol complex lowered through Friday, when West will be buried.
West is survived by his wife, Shirley, seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He graduated from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and spent 30 years as a safety engineer, product technologist, and plant and field technician for Amoco Production Company.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
