88S31058 CJM-D
 
  By: Kolkhorst S.R. No. 67
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The 95th birthday of an esteemed member of the
  Greatest Generation is indeed cause for celebration, and Donald
  Gene Davidson of Brenham is marking this milestone in his life on
  December 7, 2023; and
         WHEREAS, The son of Mary Pauline and William Davidson, Don
  Davidson was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1928; he served as
  a paratrooper in the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division at the end
  of World War II, taking part in the occupation of Japan; after
  receiving his honorable discharge, he earned his bachelor's degree
  in industrial management at Oklahoma State University; he wed the
  former Patricia "Patsy" Sue Paschall on June 1, 1950, and they
  became the proud parents of a son, Greg; through the years, their
  treasured family grew to include a daughter-in-law, Donna Garcia
  Davidson, and a granddaughter, Mary Grace Davidson; Mr. and
  Mrs. Davidson shared a fulfilling 64-year relationship until her
  passing in 2015; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Davidson began his career with Standard Oil of
  Indiana, and in the late 1950s, he was involved in opening up new
  oil fields in the U.S. and the Persian Gulf; switching to the
  aerospace industry in the 1960s, he worked on the Polaris, Ranger,
  and Minuteman programs for Hercules Powder Company in Salt Lake
  City and on the design and testing phase of Apollo Lunar Excursion
  Module components for Brown Engineering Company; later, he returned
  to the energy sector and helped to establish a communication
  platform along the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline; he retired from Atlantic
  Richfield Company in 1986 to focus on raising Longhorn cattle at
  Grand Ranch; in addition, he had two other family businesses, Mail
  Courier Express and Pee Dee Patterns, where he was both owner and
  artist; he also starred in Walking Away, an award-winning
  independent movie; and
         WHEREAS, A prolific author, Mr. Davidson wrote a novel about
  the Greatest Generation, as well as a 670-page history of the
  Davidson family, tracing it from 14th Century Scotland to modern
  America; he has been an active blogger for 15 years, recording his
  insights in "The View from Grand Ranch: The Ramblings and
  Ruminations of an Octogenarian"; very active in the Republican
  Party, he has served as an election judge and precinct worker; he
  maintained his vigorous fitness regimen well into his 90s; and
         WHEREAS, Respected and admired by all who are privileged to
  know him, Don Davidson may reflect with great satisfaction on a
  lifetime of achievement, and it is a pleasure to join his friends
  and loved ones in honoring him on this memorable occasion; now,
  therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd
  Called Session, hereby congratulate Donald Gene Davidson on his
  95th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
  happiness; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Mr. Davidson as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas Senate.