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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of McKinney lost a valued resident with |
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the death of John Edward Gay on January 26, 2021, at the age of 91; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A native of McKinney, John Gay was born to Morris and |
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Eleanor Gay on March 9, 1929; after graduating from McKinney Boyd |
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High School in 1947, he attended Southern Methodist University, |
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where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1951 and his law degree in |
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1954; he subsequently embarked on a successful legal career that |
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spanned more than six decades and included a 50-year tenure as |
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general counsel for the North Texas Municipal Water District; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gay was a member of the McKinney City Council |
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from 1985 until 1991, and he went on to serve as the city's mayor for |
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three terms, until 1997; he further contributed to his community |
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through leadership roles with a number of worthy organizations, |
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including the McKinney Rotary Club, the Children's Advocacy Center |
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of Collin County, the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife |
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Sanctuary, and the McKinney Education Foundation; moreover, he was |
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a member of the board at First United Methodist Church of McKinney; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In October 1959, Mr. Gay wed the former Judy |
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Leatherman, and in the course of their 61 years of marriage, they |
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became the proud parents of three children, Jennifer, John, and |
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David; with the passing years, he had the privilege of seeing his |
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family grow to include four grandchildren, Alan, Taylor, Ryan, and |
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Maggie; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his many accomplishments, Mr. Gay |
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received the 1999 Citizen of the Year award from the McKinney |
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Chamber of Commerce; in addition, he and his wife were honored by |
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the City of McKinney, which named the John & Judy Gay Library in |
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their honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Although John Gay's death has brought great sorrow |
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to his loved ones, his life was an inspiring example of the good |
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that one person can accomplish; 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 John Edward Gay and |
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extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; 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 John Gay. |