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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Nacogdoches lost an esteemed surgeon and |
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a beloved member of the community with the passing of Dr. Larry |
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Walker on December 16, 2021, at the age of 81; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in De Kalb on July 19, 1949, to Enois and Leon |
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Walker, Larry Walker grew up with the companionship of two younger |
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brothers, Luke and Howard; he went on to graduate from Texas A&M |
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University-Commerce and Baylor College of Medicine, and he |
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subsequently enlisted in the United States Army; from 1969 to 1970, |
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he served as captain of the Bravo Company Medical Battalion during |
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the Vietnam War, distinguishing himself through his work as a |
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brigade surgeon and earning both a Bronze Star and an Army |
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Commendation Medal; after receiving an honorable discharge, he |
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completed his surgical residency at Ben Taub Hospital, and he and |
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other residents at the hospital were featured in a 1970 issue of |
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Life magazine; and |
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WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, Dr. Walker moved to Nacogdoches |
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and established a private surgical practice at Nacogdoches Memorial |
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Hospital; he served as a general and trauma surgeon and as the |
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hospital's chief of surgery up until his retirement in 2017, and he |
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was instrumental in opening its chemotherapy department and |
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establishing the East Texas Community Health Clinic; his commitment |
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to excellence brought out the best in the staff who worked under |
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him, and at times, his deep concern for the patients he treated led |
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him to waive medical costs for those who were unable to pay; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Walker also volunteered his time as the hospice |
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director at Nacogdoches Memorial, and he served on the boards of the |
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Nacogdoches County Hospital District, as well as the Samaritan |
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Center, the East Texas Treatment Center, Friends of Music at |
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Stephen F. Austin State University, and Texas A&M |
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University-Commerce; he was recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus of |
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Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2012; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Walker enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife of 56 years, Diana Walker, and he took great |
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pride in his sons, Andrew, Craig, and Kevin, and his grandchildren, |
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Sophia, Liam, Logan, and Sylvia; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Larry Walker dedicated his life to healing and |
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helping others, and he leaves behind a legacy of compassion and |
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selflessness that will long be treasured by all those who held him |
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dear; 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. Larry Walker and |
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extend sincere sympathy to his family, friends, and former |
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colleagues; and, be 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Larry |
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Walker. |
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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. 659 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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