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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, All who shared in the life of Thomas R. Early of The |
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Woodlands were deeply saddened by his passing on April 23, 2021, at |
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the age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Jacob and Myrtle Early, Tom Early was born |
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in Borger on April 23, 1933, and he grew up with the companionship |
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of his four older siblings, Ferrill, Cleland, Norvill, and |
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Ethellea; as a teenager, he played sports and worked as a farm and |
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ranch hand, construction worker, and roustabout in the oil fields; |
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he graduated from Stinnett High School as salutatorian of his class |
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and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in economics and government |
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from The University of Texas, as well as a master's degree in |
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economics and finance from the University of Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Early joined the United States Marine Corps in |
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1953 and served for eight years, attaining the rank of corporal; in |
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civilian life, he enjoyed a successful career as chair and CEO of |
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Surgimedics, which was the first business to locate in the Research |
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Forest area; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Early was a trustee of |
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the Spring Independent School District and the founding chair of |
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the nonprofit Education for Tomorrow Alliance, and for many years, |
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he was a member of U.S. Representative Kevin Brady's Service |
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Academies Nominations Board; moreover, he played an instrumental |
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role in the construction of the Texas Marine Medal of Honor Monument |
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in Town Green Park, which was dedicated in 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Early married his high school sweetheart, |
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Jeanine, on November 21, 1952, and the couple shared a rewarding |
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union that spanned 64 years until her passing in 2016; he took great |
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pride in his children, Steven, Jeff, and Jennifer, and with the |
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passing years, he had the pleasure of seeing his family grow to |
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include five grandchildren; a man of faith, he was a valued |
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congregant of The Woodlands United Methodist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, A proud military veteran and devoted family man, Tom |
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Early will forever be a source of inspiration to those he leaves |
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behind; 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 life of Thomas R. Early and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his son, |
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Jeff Early, and his wife, Brenda; to his daughter, Jennifer Early |
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Kiser, and her husband, Gene; to his grandchildren, Joshua Kiser, |
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Kathryn Early, Lauren Early, and her husband, Austin, Alyssa Early, |
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and her husband, Kevin, and Jacob Kiser and his wife, Amanda; and to |
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his other relatives and friends; and, be it 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 Tom Early. |