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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Honorable James Ray Gayle III of Angleton passed |
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away on May 18, 2022, at the age of 84, leaving his loved ones and |
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friends to reflect on his remarkable life and his many years of |
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dedicated service to the community; and |
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WHEREAS, J. Ray Gayle was born in Houston on October 29, 1937, |
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to James Ray Gayle Jr. and Lavenia Brewer Gayle, and he grew up with |
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the companionship of a sister, Janice; he competed on the |
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basketball, baseball, and track teams at Angleton High School, and |
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he continued to distinguish himself athletically as a pole vaulter |
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at The University of Texas; after earning an accounting degree in |
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1960, he graduated from the UT School of Law in 1966; he served his |
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country as a member of the United States Navy and the Naval Reserve, |
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attaining the rank of lieutenant; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1966, Mr. Gayle began his career as a felony |
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prosecutor for Midland County; he worked for several years as a |
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trial attorney in Texarkana and Angleton, and in 1973, he was |
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appointed judge of County Court at Law No. 1 in Brazoria County; |
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five years later, he successfully ran for judge of the 239th |
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District Court, and he was returned to office by county voters for |
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five successive terms for 24 years of service; he retired from that |
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post and assumed senior judge status in 2003; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Gayle was a member of the State Bar of Texas, |
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the Brazoria County Bar Association, and the Texas Bar Foundation; |
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he gave back to his fellow citizens through his service as an elder |
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and trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Angleton, as |
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president of the Angleton Lions Club and the Angleton Wildcat |
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Athletic Booster Club, and as a member of the Greater Angleton |
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Chamber of Commerce; he also coached both Little League and Babe |
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Ruth baseball, and in recognition of his civic involvement, he |
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received the Boy Scouts' 2018 Golden Eagle Award and the 2022 |
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Community Champion Award; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Judge Gayle enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife of 58 years, Nancy, their children, Shannon |
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Gayle Sebesta and her husband, the Honorable Pat Sebesta, and James |
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Ray "Chip" Gayle IV and his wife, Parrish Gayle, and their |
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grandchildren, Patrick Sebesta and his wife, Keri, William, |
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Christopher, Annabelle, and John Sebesta, and Jessica Gayle; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man, a proud veteran, and a pillar |
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of his community, J. Ray Gayle leaves behind a legacy of service |
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that will forever inspire all those who held him dear; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable James Ray Gayle III |
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and extend sincere sympathy to those who mourn his passing; 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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J. Ray Gayle. |
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Vasut |
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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. 73 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 16, 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. 73 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the Senate on April 3, 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 |