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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas William Pruett of Lake Jackson is being |
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honored for his many years of mission work and community service at |
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an event hosted by the Rotary Club of Brazosport on October 16, |
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2021; and |
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WHEREAS, An alumnus of the Schreiner Institute in Kerrville |
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and Texas Tech University, Tom Pruett graduated with honors as a |
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member of the inaugural class of the College of Optometry at the |
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University of Houston in 1955; he subsequently settled in Lake |
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Jackson, and in 1981, he organized his first eye clinic in Juarez, |
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Mexico, which was sponsored by the First United Methodist Church; |
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he continued to conduct similar work until 1985, when a $160,000 |
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grant from Rotary International enabled the expansion of the |
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clinics to the entire state of Chihuahua; additionally, another |
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grant funded the construction of a permanent facility in Guerrero, |
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a site that remains in operation today and provides a significant |
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portion of indigent health care for the region; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Pruett has gone on to complete 111 mission trips |
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to Mexico over the past four decades, during which time he has |
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performed more than 10,000 eye exams, prescribed and fitted over |
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10,000 pairs of glasses, and inspired the efforts of the more than |
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500 volunteers who have joined the initiative; the clinics in |
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Mexico provide over $5 million in free medical treatment each year |
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in the areas of general medicine, dentistry, gynecology, and |
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plastic surgery, in addition to eye care and surgery; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired for his civic engagement, Dr. Pruett has |
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been recognized as the Brazosport Outstanding Man of the Year and |
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was the first recipient of the Rotary International Service Above |
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Self Award; among his many other accolades, he has been honored with |
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the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Public Health |
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Association and the Community Builder Award from Lake Jackson |
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Masonic Lodge No. 1317; for nearly six decades, Dr. Pruett enjoyed |
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the love and support of his wife, the late Carolyn Pruett, and today |
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he takes great pride in his two children, Tamara and Thomas, and his |
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grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his compassion, generosity, and tremendous |
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dedication, Tom Pruett has made a positive difference in the lives |
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of innumerable people, and his outstanding contributions will |
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continue to resonate in the years to come; 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 commend Dr. Thomas Pruett |
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for his many years of community service and extend to him sincere |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Pruett as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |