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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of joyful times and meaningful |
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accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends of Harlon |
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Brooks of Nacogdoches, who passed away on August 20, 2023, at the |
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age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Gaylon and Topsie Brooks, Harlon Brooks |
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was born in Nacogdoches on December 19, 1943, and he grew up with |
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the companionship of four sisters, Rose, Ella, Anita, and Mary; he |
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graduated from E. J. Campbell High School in 1961; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Brooks married his high school sweetheart, |
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Alfreddie, and the couple shared many happy years together until |
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his passing; they were blessed with two children, Candace and |
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Marlon, and their treasured family eventually grew to include five |
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grandchildren, Gabriel, Jordan, Michael, Isaac, and Jacob; and |
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WHEREAS, Together with his wife and two of his friends, |
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Mr. Brooks founded Harlon's BBQ in Houston in 1977; the restaurant |
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originally operated out of a former gas station in the South Park |
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neighborhood, and it later became one of the first Black-owned |
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businesses to establish sites at major airports and to serve as a |
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food vendor at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; over the years, |
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the business grew to include more than two dozen locations across |
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Texas before it closed its physical stores and transitioned to |
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special events catering; in 2010, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks retired to |
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their hometown of Nacogdoches, where they purchased several local |
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enterprises; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Brooks was involved in a number of organizations |
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and events throughout his life, including the Texas Blueberry |
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Festival, Concerned Black Men of Nacogdoches, RodeoHouston, and the |
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Wings Over Houston Airshow, and he was an active member of Iron |
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Wheel Baptist Church; among his many honors, he received the |
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African American Business Achievement Pinnacle Award from the |
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Greater Houston Black Chamber in 2000; and |
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WHEREAS, Harlon Brooks lived a rich and purposeful life |
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centered around his family, his work, and his community, and he will |
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long be remembered with deep admiration and affection by all who |
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were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Harlon Brooks and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; |
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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 Harlon |
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Brooks. |