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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Nacogdoches lost an admired civic |
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leader with the passing of Dr. Leon Charles Hallman on January 14, |
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2023, at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, Leon Hallman was born in Dallas on May 8, 1937, to |
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Edgar and Helen Frances Hallman; after starting his career as an |
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accountant, he changed course and earned his Ph.D. in geography |
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from the University of California, Los Angeles, before going to |
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work as a geography professor at Stephen F. Austin State |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Hallman excelled as an educator at SFASU and was |
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promoted to leadership roles that included department chair and |
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director of the university's Office of International Studies, where |
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he coordinated exchange programs with countries such as China, |
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Japan, and Ukraine; he greatly enjoyed his work and remained |
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passionate about learning, creating, and traveling throughout his |
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life; and |
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WHEREAS, Active and engaged in his community, Dr. Hallman |
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served on the Nacogdoches Planning & Zoning Committee before he was |
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elected to the city commission, now known as the city council; he |
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was dedicated to promoting economic development, and he also served |
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on the advisory committee for the city's 2003 comprehensive plan; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Dr. Hallman belonged to a number of |
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civic and service clubs and held many positions in both the local |
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chamber of commerce and the Nacogdoches Rotary Club; he likewise |
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volunteered his time generously at the First United Methodist |
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Church, including as a member of the choir; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Hallman shared his devotion to civic life with |
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his wife of 43 years, Dr. Patsy Hallman, with whom he founded the |
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Texas Blueberry Festival in 1989; he conceived the idea for the |
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event as a means of generating business and paying tribute to local |
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blueberry farms, and it has since grown to attract tens of thousands |
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of attendees; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Hallman's loving family further included his |
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children, Karen, Adaire, Dave, and Bethany, his "adopted" son, |
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Igor, his grandchildren, Scott, Margaret, Michael, Katherine, and |
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Alexandra, and his "adopted" grandchildren, Bryan and Vera; he was |
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preceded in death by his son, Dwayne; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man, a dynamic educator, and a |
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pillar of his community, Dr. Leon Hallman leaves behind a legacy of |
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service that will forever inspire those who were privileged to know |
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him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Leon Charles |
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Hallman and extend sincere sympathy to his loved ones; and, be it |
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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 Dr. Leon |
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Charles Hallman. |
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Clardy |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 657 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 30, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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