In Memory of Scott Tarwater

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Scott Tarwater, a man whose life was marked by excellence and deep influence within his community. Over the years, Tarwater developed a profound reverence for the state of Texas and committed his life to encouraging the growth of North Texas whilst preserving its storied past. During his childhood, Tarwater watched the land around him transform as the Army Corps of Engineers began the development of Lake Grapevine along his family farm property. Tarwater and his wife, Donna, were married on the third step of the family's historic farmhouse, which showcases not only the union of two individuals as one married couple, but the union of reverence for the past and hope for the future which defined Tarwater's life. He watched and participated as a young man alongside his family as they partnered with Peter Paul Stewart, a landman who developed the treasured family farm into Lakeside Village. The Tarwater family farm now also serves as the grounds for Lakeside Tower, which has facilitated travel and business to the Flower Mound community. In March 2020, the Tarwater farmhouse was transported from Flower Mound to Grapevine, to make room for the influential Lakeside Village and to be enshrined forever as a historical landmark and testament to the Tarwater's investment in North Texas. Mr. Tarwater's professional life began with picking tomatoes on the farm and as he furthered his career, he kept his family's joy of continually serving their community close at heart. Following his graduation from Stephen F. Austin State University, Tarwater pursued a series of remarkable business successes in the hospitality industry. He worked as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing from 1982 to 1985 at American International Rent a Car, Inc., managing global accounts and developing his skills as a salesman of international renown. In the following years he became Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Windsor Hospitality Group, dedicating 10 years of his life to the company between 1990 and 2000. Tarwater spent the largest portion of his career with John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts. Hammons Hotels & Resorts was considered at one point to be the largest private owner and hotel management company in the U.S., due to John Hammons' skill as well as his foresight in selecting Scott Tarwater to work as his close associate and business partner. Tarwater spent the final part of his career as Executive Vice President of Development Services with New Stream Capital. In his collective professional life, Tarwater managed the sales and marketing efforts of over 101 upscale hotels over the course of 15 years with both Windsor Hospitality and Hammons Hotels & Resorts. Throughout this great international success, Tarwater also kept Grapevine and Flower Mound in mind. In his work at New Stream Capital and Hammons Hotels, Tarwater established the first hotel in Flower Mound, the Flower Mound Courtyard River Walk, and Grapevine's Embassy Suites Hotel. Though Tarwater lived a life of travel and adventure, he never lost sight of North Texas and its rich history. Tarwater embodies the best of Texas as a trailblazer and dedicated family man. Acquaintances and coworkers of Tarwater alike have appreciated his sincere friendship and the joy with which he approached life and work. Scott Tarwater has fundamentally propelled Grapevine and Flower Mound into a force on the world stage and preserved its historical integrity for years to come. I am honored to recognize the life of Scott Tarwater and his exemplary service to North Texas. I thank Mr. Tarwater for his excellence and dedication to the community we all hold so dear. I offer my condolences to the Tarwater family and Scott's loved ones and hold his example close to my heart.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source