Jordy Tollett may not be dead, but the Chron has his obituary regardless.

Jordy Tollett and members of the executive committee of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau came to a "mutual agreement" that Tollett step down as president -- a position he fought to keep last year.

Tollett's resignation will help make the search for a new director cleaner and avoids a protracted showdown between him and Mayor Bill White. Tollett had lined up support from prominent civic and business leaders, including Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen and sports-franchise owners Drayton McLane and Bob McNair. He also had a majority of the Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court backing him up.

"No one would have won a pitched battle," said Joe Householder of Public Strategies Inc., a longtime observer of local politics. "Had the mayor 'won,' he still would have been bloodied. Jordy has a lot of friends. The mayor didn't need that fight."

White, who insisted the board search for a replacement when Tollett's contract expires in February, will get what he wanted -- new blood at the bureau.

Tollett will remain as a consultant until 2008, receiving his full $206,000 annual salary.

White, who made it clear last year that it is time for Tollett to move on, offered words of praise for Tollett on Tuesday.

"He made a significant contribution to Houston, particularly as the right-hand man of mayors who built and helped build downtown facilities. That will be his most lasting contribution," White said.

As one might expect, HouStoned piles on. (My God, is that a soul patch he's sporting in the photo? The horror, the horror...) I think we've answered Marc Campos' question about the relative machismo of Tollett and White. Now that we have that burning issue behind us, we can move on with the rest of the year.