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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Pioneering Texas vintner Hugo Edwin Auler passed |
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away on October 14, 2023, at the age of 78, bringing a great loss to |
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his family and many friends; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Mary and Hugo Auler, Ed Auler was born in |
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Austin on July 28, 1945; while a student at The University of Texas |
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at Austin, he met the love of his life, the former Susan Teeple, and |
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they were married on June 17, 1967; he enlisted in the U.S. Army |
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Reserve, and after completing his law degree, he joined the firm of |
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Kendall, Randall, Finch, and Osborne; he also began running his |
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family's Fall Creek Ranch in the Hill Country; in 1973, he and his |
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wife traveled to France to observe a cattle operation, and at her |
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suggestion, they explored the wine country, too; they ultimately |
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spent just three days looking at cattle and over two weeks learning |
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about wine in various regions; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Auler planted his own small vineyard at home |
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within two years and quickly expanded a quarter-acre plot to seven |
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and a half acres; in the 1980s, he gave up his law practice and |
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purchased 400 acres along the west side of Lake Buchanan to |
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establish Fall Creek Vineyards, blazing a trail for the development |
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of the Hill Country as a vibrant wine region; over the years, his |
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wines garnered hundreds of awards; he was a great champion of the |
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state's industry and advocated for legislation that has helped it |
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flourish; moreover, he was a mentor to many, and he and his wife |
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founded the Austin Food and Wine Festival; and |
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WHEREAS, Although wine was his passion, Mr. Auler was |
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involved in the energy, real estate, and banking industries as |
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well; he was a member of the advisory board of Frost Bank; dedicated |
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to his community, he served on the boards of numerous |
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organizations, among them St. David's Hospital Foundation and |
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St. Andrew's Episcopal School; he was president of the Admirals |
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Club of Austin and Tarry House; he received myriad accolades, |
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including the People of Vision Award from the Texas Society to |
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Prevent Blindness and the Service Award from the Colorado River |
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Foundation; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Auler loved the outdoors and traveling the world |
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with his wife; a pilot for 39 years, he introduced a future |
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commander of the Air Force One program to flying; he enjoyed playing |
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guitar and learning about history, geography, and archeology; above |
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all, he was devoted to his family; he took his sons, Chad and Mark, |
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on hunting and fishing trips and coached basketball when they were |
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young; in later years, he delighted in spending time with his |
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grandchildren and cheering them on at their athletic events and |
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dance recitals; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired for his kindness, patience, and dedication, |
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Ed Auler lived a caring and purposeful life, and he will be |
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remembered with admiration and affection by all who were privileged |
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to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of Hugo Edwin |
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Auler and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his wife, Susan Auler; to his children, Chad Auler and his wife, |
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Stacy, and Mark Auler and his wife, Clary; to his grandchildren, |
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Yates, Charles, Ash, Daisy, and Shelby Auler; to his sister, Mary |
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Ann Meyers; and to his other relatives and many 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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Ed Auler. |