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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed member of the |
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Greatest Generation is truly cause for celebration, and Robert |
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Richard Fegraeus of Dallas marked this momentous milestone in his |
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life on April 4, 2021, in the company of family and friends; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1921, Bob Fegraeus is |
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the son of Erik and Idaline Fegraeus; he graduated from Central High |
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School and attended what is now the University of Minnesota Duluth; |
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coming of age during World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and |
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became a pilot; he served in the Pacific Theater on the USS |
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Independence (CVL-22) with VFN-41, the "Shademaids"; his squadron |
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is considered the first to fly night missions off aircraft carriers |
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without radar, requiring aviators to read the wake of the carrier |
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and land by the dim light of smudge pots on the deck; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the first Hellcat fighter pilots, |
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Mr. Fegraeus logged over 900 hours in F6Fs, racking up 140 carrier |
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landings, including 40 at night; on one mission, his plane took |
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enemy fire through the wing, less than four feet from the cockpit; |
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he continued to serve following the war, retiring after 22 years in |
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1964 at the rank of commander; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Fegraeus married Doris "Dorrie" Zimmerman in |
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Coronado, California; settling in Dallas, they raised three |
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children, and Mr. Fegraeus worked as a claims manager for Mutual of |
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Omaha; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship until |
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Mrs. Fegraeus's passing in 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, A valued member of his community, Mr. Fegraeus |
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belongs to East Dallas Christian Church, where he is known for his |
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dry wit and coffee-making prowess, as well as his derring-do, |
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although he reportedly gave up skydiving at some point after his |
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90th birthday; today, he enjoys the love and support of his family, |
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which has grown to include his daughter, Karin Morgan, and her |
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husband, Sonny, his sons, Eric and his wife, Susie, and Kurt and his |
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wife, Susan, and his grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer, Jacob, Kelsey, |
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Jordan, and Kendall, and great-grandchildren, Drew, Ben, and |
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Hannah; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Bob Fegraeus has |
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bravely served his nation and met life's challenges and |
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opportunities with grace and fortitude, earning the deep admiration |
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of all who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Robert Richard Fegraeus on his |
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100th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Fegraeus as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |