| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
|
|
passing of Richard Joseph Knapik of Bay City on October 14, 2021, at |
|
|
the age of 72; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The son of Joseph and Eleanor Knapik, Richard Knapik |
|
|
was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 22, 1948, and he grew up |
|
|
with the companionship of four siblings, Therese, Marie, Mark, and |
|
|
Joseph; answering his nation's call to duty, he served in the U.S. |
|
|
Army during the Vietnam War, and his military honors included two |
|
|
bronze stars for heroism as well as the Combat Infantryman Badge; he |
|
|
graduated from St. Vincent de Paul Preparatory Seminary and the |
|
|
University of Colorado; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Knapik enjoyed a rewarding career as manager of |
|
|
Bay City Plumbing Supply from 1980 to 1991, and he subsequently |
|
|
served as director of the Bay City Chamber of Commerce and |
|
|
Agriculture for 13 years; in 2004, he was elected mayor of Bay City, |
|
|
and he held that office until 2010; he then returned to his position |
|
|
at Bay City Plumbing Supply, where he worked until 2020; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Knapik served as |
|
|
president of the Gulf Coast Chamber Executives, chair of the Texas |
|
|
Chamber of Commerce Executives board, and president of Community |
|
|
Actors of South Texas; his many honors include a Distinguished |
|
|
Service Award from TCCE, a George Holst Award from the Matagorda |
|
|
County Economic Development Corporation, and a Jack Wiech Fellow |
|
|
Award from Lions Club Camp; he was also named the Man of the Year by |
|
|
the Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in 1998; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Knapik benefited from the |
|
|
love and support of his wife, Nancy, with whom he shared a |
|
|
fulfilling marriage that spanned 38 years; a man of deep faith, he |
|
|
was a devoted congregant of First Presbyterian Church in Bay City, |
|
|
where he served as an ordained elder; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, While the death of Richard Knapik brings great |
|
|
sadness to his family and friends, he leaves behind a legacy that |
|
|
will long be treasured by all those who held him dear; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Richard Joseph |
|
|
Knapik and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: |
|
|
to his wife, Nancy Wirth Knapik; to his sisters, Therese Moscinski |
|
|
and her husband, Rick, and Marie Banevicus; to his brothers, Mark |
|
|
Knapik and his wife, Patty, and Joseph Knapik; to his |
|
|
sister-in-law, Susan Owen, and her husband, Prentice; to his nieces |
|
|
and nephews, Samantha, Ashley, Lindsay, Steven, Michael, and Haley; |
|
|
and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Richard |
|
|
Knapik. |
| |
|
|
Morrison |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 92 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
|
|
vote of the House on February 7, 2023. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |