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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of San Angelo lost a beloved community |
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leader with the passing of Byron E. Cleere on October 4, 2021, at |
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the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Alice on July 4, 1932, "Sonny" Cleere was the |
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youngest of four children born to Buford and Myrtle Cleere; a |
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standout in football and track at Alice High School, he earned a |
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scholarship to Abilene Christian University; as a Wildcat, he was |
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captain of the football team and anchored the offensive line as a |
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guard on a number of talented squads; among his many accolades, he |
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earned All-Conference and All-American honors; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1954, Mr. Cleere was drafted by the Chicago |
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Bears, but his career came to an end when he sustained injuries |
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during a hunting accident; he then coached and taught social |
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studies for a decade at Ozona High School; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cleere subsequently moved to San Angelo, where |
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he enjoyed a successful career as owner of the Meadows, Fisher & |
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Cleere Insurance company; highly respected in the community, he was |
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a founding member of the Back the Badge organization and was |
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instrumental in launching the July 4th Pops Concert and Fireworks |
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show and the annual San Angelo Support for Veterans Hunt; known for |
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his rich baritone, he served as the "voice of San Angelo" for 38 |
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years as announcer at San Angelo Central High School football |
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games; in 2003, he was named the San Angelo Citizen of the Year by |
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the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Cleere benefited from the |
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love and support of his wife, the former Claudia Ketner, and he took |
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great pride in his four children, Kirk, Ned, Penny, and Courtney |
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Paige; with the passing years, his family grew to include eight |
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grandchildren, Jabyn, Jewel, Camille, Claire, Caroline, Sophia, |
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Victoria, and the late Byron Dixon Cleere; a man of deep faith, he |
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rose early each morning for Bible study, and he inspired others with |
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his integrity and generosity; and |
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WHEREAS, Sonny Cleere was a force for good in his community |
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and a dear friend to many, and he will forever be remembered with |
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deep admiration by all those who were fortunate enough to know him; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Byron E. Cleere and extend sincere condolences to the members of |
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his family: to his wife, Claudia Cleere; to his children, Kirk |
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Cleere and his wife, Patsy, Ned Munoz and his wife, Tammy, Penny |
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Cleere, and Courtney Paige Fajkus and her husband, Gregg; to his |
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grandchildren, Jabyn and Jewel Cleere, Camille, Claire, and |
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Caroline Fajkus, and Sophia and Victoria Munoz; to his sister, |
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Willodean Ellis; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sonny |
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Cleere. |