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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life lived with joy and purpose drew to a close |
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with the passing of Opal M. Allen of San Angelo on March 17, 2020; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The eldest of 15 children, the former Opal Bennett |
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was born in Limestone County to Vera and Willie Bennett; she learned |
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the importance of hard work at an early age and put her studies on |
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hold to help support her family; in June 1957, she wed Norvell |
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Allen, with whom she shared 55 rewarding years of marriage; the |
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couple were blessed with two daughters, Robbin and Alma, and their |
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family later grew to include two grandchildren, Jasmine and Justin, |
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and three great-grandchildren, Camryn, Madison, and Alexia; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Allen never lost sight of her dream to become |
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an educator; she worked and attended night school to earn her GED, |
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and in 1970, she received a bachelor's degree in history from Paul |
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Quinn College in Waco; the following year, her family moved to San |
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Angelo, and she took a job teaching history at Central High School, |
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where she was one of the first African American members of the |
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faculty; she enjoyed a career spanning 26 years at the campus, and |
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she continued her own studies by earning a master's degree in |
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education from Angelo State University in 1982; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of devout faith, Mrs. Allen was an active |
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congregant at her church, serving in such roles as Sunday school |
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teacher, finance committee member, choir member, and first lady |
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alongside her husband during his time in the ministry; many |
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organizations also benefited from her involvement, including Le |
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Coterie Society of San Angelo, the Ministers' Wives Alliance of San |
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Angelo, the Pregnancy Help Center of Concho Valley, and the Delta |
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Kappa Gamma Society International; and |
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WHEREAS, Opal Allen dedicated her life to her faith, her |
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family, and her students, and all those who loved and cherished her |
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will forever find inspiration in their memories of her strength, |
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generosity, and wisdom; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Opal M. Allen and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to her 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 her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Opal Allen. |