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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Walter David Counts Jr. of Knox City, |
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a former state representative and brevet brigadier general in the |
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Texas Army National Guard, passed away on August 18, 2023, at the |
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age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Munday on July 14, 1936, David Counts was the |
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son of Walter and Alma Counts; he grew up in Rule and attended West |
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Texas State College and North Texas State College; in 1953, he |
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joined the Texas Army National Guard, and over the course of 32 |
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years in the military, he attained the rank of colonel; |
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then-governor George W. Bush promoted him to brevet brigadier |
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general following his retirement; among other honors, he received |
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the General K. L. Bailey Award for heroism and the Minute Man Award |
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for outstanding service; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Counts wed the love of his life, the former Mary |
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Mullins, on July 15, 1956; they became the proud parents of two |
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children, Patti and David, and through the years, their family grew |
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to include four grandchildren, Seth, Jennifer, Sarah, and Matthew, |
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as well as eight great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Settling in Knox City, Mr. Counts established Counts |
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Insurance Agency in 1960; he operated the business for 35 years, and |
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he also founded Counts Real Estate; in addition, he owned a |
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bookkeeping and tax service for a decade and grew wheat and cotton |
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in Knox, Stonewall, and Haskell Counties; he served as vice |
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president and director of Rolling Plains Well Service, as president |
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and chair of Chap Operating Company, as director and treasurer of |
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Perry Pump Service, and as a director of both First Bank of West |
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Texas and Western Bancshares; moreover, he was a member of the board |
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of the Texas Association of Realtors; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Counts was first elected to the Texas House of |
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Representatives in 1988, and for the next 15 years, he worked |
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tirelessly in behalf of his constituents, who resided primarily in |
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the North Central Plains region; he chaired the Natural Resources |
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Committee for a decade, co-chaired the Water Resources Committee, |
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and served on many other committees, including the Insurance, |
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Redistricting, and State Affairs Committees; he authored a |
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constitutional amendment to exempt Masonic lodges from ad valorem |
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taxes; and |
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WHEREAS, A member of the Masons for more than six decades, Mr. |
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Counts was raised to the degree of Master Mason in 1961, and he |
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served three separate terms as Worshipful Master; he began his |
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association with the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1971 and rose to become |
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Most Worshipful Grand Master, the highest office in Texas Masonry, |
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in 2008; he gave generously of his time and talents to a host of |
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Masonic groups, and he served as treasurer of Masonic Children & |
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Family Services of Texas and as a trustee of Scottish Rite for |
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Children; the recipient of numerous honors, he was inducted into |
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the Masonic Grand Lodge Library and Museum of Texas Sam Houston Hall |
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of Fame and served as a patron of the library and museum; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Counts also contributed to the greater community |
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through his longtime service as a director of the Knox City Chamber |
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of Commerce and as a member of the Knox City Lions Club; he |
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benefited higher education as a member of several boards, including |
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the development board of Hardin-Simmons University; he was a valued |
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congregant of First Baptist Church of Knox City and gave generously |
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of his time and resources to Gideons International; and |
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WHEREAS, David Counts lived a life that was rich in public |
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service and in personal and professional achievements, and his |
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contributions will be remembered and admired for years to come; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Walter David |
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Counts Jr. and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Mary Counts; to his children, Patti Counts |
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Holmes and her husband, Steve, and David Counts III and his wife, |
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Jill; to his grandchildren, Seth Barnett and his wife, Jenni, |
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Jennifer McCann and her husband, Josh, Sarah Grace and her husband, |
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Jacob, and Matthew Counts and his wife, Allie; to his eight |
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great-grandchildren; to his sister, Cheryl Robinson, and her |
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husband, Bobby; and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be |
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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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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David Counts. |
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Craddick |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 4 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on November 17, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 4 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the Senate on November 30, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |