Miles Teel Bivins 1947-2009
Teel Bivins 61 of Amarillo died peacefully on Monday Oct. 26 2009 after a years-long battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Bivins whose political successes as a state senator and then ambassador to Sweden were curtailed by a draining disease died Monday afternoon at his Amarillo home surrounded by family and friends.
Bivins was diagnosed with the disease in 2004 while serving as President George W. Bushs appointed ambassador to Sweden. He resigned from that post in 2006 and came back to Texas.
Following a private burial a public memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Amarillo.
The former ambassador to Sweden state legislator cattleman and descendant of a Texas Panhandle pioneer ranching family was preceded in death by his parents Lee Truscott Bivins and Betty Teel Bivins Lovell and his brother Levi Bivins.
He is survived by his brothers Mark Bivins and Tom Bivins both of Amarillo and their wives; his beloved children Andrew Montgomery Bivins and his wife Wendy Ryan Bivins of Amarillo; Katherine Teel Bivins of Amarillo; William Terrill Bivins of Amarillo and Carolyn Hamilton Bivins of Houston; his grandson Nolan Montgomery Bivins; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Teel Bivins was born Nov. 22 1947 in Amarillo. He graduated from Tulane University in 1970. He was awarded a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Southern Methodist University Law School in 1974.
Beginning in 1989 Bivins served five terms in the Texas legislature as state senator for District 31. It was a position he won in his first race for political office. During his tenure in the Legislature Bivins served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee the Education Committee the Nominations Committee and the Agricultural Subcommittee of the Natural Resources Committee. In addition he co-chaired the Interim Committee on Public School Finance during the 78th session and was a member of the Electric Utility Restructuring Oversight Committee in 1999. He also instituted tort reform in Texas.
Bivins championed public education through measures to increase accountability and spending for public education end social promotion and increase financial aid for college students. In 2008 his contributions to politics and higher education were recognized by West Texas A&M University through the Teel Bivins professor of Political Science endowed chair.
In 1999 and 2001 Bivins was recognized as one of the most influential lawmakers by The Dallas Morning News. In 1997 and 2001 he was named one of the Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly magazine. Bivins will be missed by his former legislative colleagues and staffers many of whom have expressed the honor of having worked with him on behalf of the citizens of the Texas Panhandle.
In 2004 Sen. Bivins was appointed United States ambassador to the kingdom of Sweden by President George W. Bush. He served as ambassador until February 2006 when illness forced him to resign from public service and return home to Texas.
While most will remember him in business attire Bivins had the rough hands of a working cowboy and took a hands-on approach to his familys four-generation involvement in ranching and the cattle business. In 1976 he and his brother Tom formed a partnership Bivins Brothers. In 1978 Bivins along with his two brothers Mark and Tom Dale Smith and Jay OBrien formed a partnership Corsino Cattle Co. which is still in operation. He was also active in oil and gas exploration.
Many of his favorite times were spent on horseback on the familys ranch where he taught his children to be good stewards of the land. Bivins love of the outdoors also extended to sports. He was an avid skier and enjoyed numerous heli-skiing trips to some of the most challenging mountains in Canada. He also enjoyed mountain biking with friends and family in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Ambassador Bivins passed along his love of fishing at the 4UR Ranch in Creede Colo. to his sons Andrew and Will.
The family wishes to extend its deepest thanks to Linda Griggs Sharon Miner Sandra de los Santos Ronda Johnson Nona Anne Terry and Alexis Freyer. They are also thankful for the special care given by Kay Russo Sammy de los Santos Ray Gonzales and Margie Andrade as well as the wonderful staff at Goodcare Services.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be to St. Andrews Episcopal School 1515 Georgia St. Amarillo TX 79102; High Plains Public Radio 101 S.W. Fifth Ave. Suite 100 Amarillo TX 79101; or the Senator Teel Bivins Scholarship in care of the Amarillo Area Foundation 801 S. Fillmore St. Suite 700 Amarillo TX 79101.
Miles Teel Bivins 1947-2009
Teel Bivins 61 of Amarillo died peacefully on Monday Oct. 26 2009 after a years-long battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Bivins whose political successes as a state senator and then ambassador to Sweden were curtailed by a draining disease died Monday afternoon at his Amarillo home surrounded by family and friends.
Bivins was diagnosed with the disease in 2004 while serving as President George W. Bushs appointed ambassador to Sweden. He resigned from that post in 2006 and came back to Texas.
Following a private burial a public memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Amarillo.
The former ambassador to Sweden state legislator cattleman and descendant of a Texas Panhandle pioneer ranching family was preceded in death by his parents Lee Truscott Bivins and Betty Teel Bivins Lovell and his brother Levi Bivins.
He is survived by his brothers Mark Bivins and Tom Bivins both of Amarillo and their wives; his beloved children Andrew Montgomery Bivins and his wife Wendy Ryan Bivins of Amarillo; Katherine Teel Bivins of Amarillo; William Terrill Bivins of Amarillo and Carolyn Hamilton Bivins of Houston; his grandson Nolan Montgomery Bivins; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Teel Bivins was born Nov. 22 1947 in Amarillo. He graduated from Tulane University in 1970. He was awarded a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Southern Methodist University Law School in 1974.
Beginning in 1989 Bivins served five terms in the Texas legislature as state senator for District 31. It was a position he won in his first race for political office. During his tenure in the Legislature Bivins served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee the Education Committee the Nominations Committee and the Agricultural Subcommittee of the Natural Resources Committee. In addition he co-chaired the Interim Committee on Public School Finance during the 78th session and was a member of the Electric Utility Restructuring Oversight Committee in 1999. He also instituted tort reform in Texas.
Bivins championed public education through measures to increase accountability and spending for public education end social promotion and increase financial aid for college students. In 2008 his contributions to politics and higher education were recognized by West Texas A&M University through the Teel Bivins professor of Political Science endowed chair.
In 1999 and 2001 Bivins was recognized as one of the most influential lawmakers by The Dallas Morning News. In 1997 and 2001 he was named one of the Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly magazine. Bivins will be missed by his former legislative colleagues and staffers many of whom have expressed the honor of having worked with him on behalf of the citizens of the Texas Panhandle.
In 2004 Sen. Bivins was appointed United States ambassador to the kingdom of Sweden by President George W. Bush. He served as ambassador until February 2006 when illness forced him to resign from public service and return home to Texas.
While most will remember him in business attire Bivins had the rough hands of a working cowboy and took a hands-on approach to his familys four-generation involvement in ranching and the cattle business. In 1976 he and his brother Tom formed a partnership Bivins Brothers. In 1978 Bivins along with his two brothers Mark and Tom Dale Smith and Jay OBrien formed a partnership Corsino Cattle Co. which is still in operation. He was also active in oil and gas exploration.
Many of his favorite times were spent on horseback on the familys ranch where he taught his children to be good stewards of the land. Bivins love of the outdoors also extended to sports. He was an avid skier and enjoyed numerous heli-skiing trips to some of the most challenging mountains in Canada. He also enjoyed mountain biking with friends and family in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Ambassador Bivins passed along his love of fishing at the 4UR Ranch in Creede Colo. to his sons Andrew and Will.
The family wishes to extend its deepest thanks to Linda Griggs Sharon Miner Sandra de los Santos Ronda Johnson Nona Anne Terry and Alexis Freyer. They are also thankful for the special care given by Kay Russo Sammy de los Santos Ray Gonzales and Margie Andrade as well as the wonderful staff at Goodcare Services.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be to St. Andrews Episcopal School 1515 Georgia St. Amarillo TX 79102; High Plains Public Radio 101 S.W. Fifth Ave. Suite 100 Amarillo TX 79101; or the Senator Teel Bivins Scholarship in care of the Amarillo Area Foundation 801 S. Fillmore St. Suite 700 Amarillo TX 79101.
