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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Bishop Elijah Evans of the Texas Army |
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National Guard died in the line of duty on April 25, 2022, at the age |
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of 22, and his untimely passing was a tragic loss to his family, |
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friends, and colleagues; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Jwana C. Evans in Philadelphia, |
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Pennsylvania, on November 9, 1999, Bishop Evans was raised by his |
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grandmother, Jo Ann Haralson-Johnson, and he grew up with a sister, |
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Tiyana; during his early childhood, he attended school in the |
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Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, and he became |
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involved with several youth groups at Bethel African Methodist |
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Episcopal Church; he also participated in Boy Scouts, and he played |
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soccer; after moving to Arlington to live with his aunt, Felisha |
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Pullen, he transferred to the Mansfield Independent School District |
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and played football; and |
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WHEREAS, He began living with his mother and stepfather, |
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Michael Burnett, in North Pole, Alaska, in 2013, and he attended |
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Eilson High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team and |
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school choir; he also served as drill team commander with the JROTC |
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program, and he was named an expert marksman; his many hobbies |
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included fishing, hunting, and indoor archery; he returned to |
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Mansfield ISD for his last three years of high school, and he served |
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as a member and later as commander of the JROTC Physical Training |
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Team; and |
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WHEREAS, Shortly after graduating from Mansfield High School |
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in 2018, Mr. Evans joined the Texas Army National Guard; in 2019, he |
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contributed to a hurricane response mission, and he went on to serve |
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in Kuwait and Iraq before being deployed to Texas' southern border |
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for Operation Lone Star; in April 2022, he bravely jumped into the |
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Rio Grande to try to save two migrants being swept away by the |
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current; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for his kind and generous nature, Sergeant |
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Bishop Evans rendered exemplary service to his state and community, |
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and the dedication and heroism that he demonstrated will never be |
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forgotten; 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 Sergeant Bishop |
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Elijah Evans and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his |
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passing; 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 Sergeant |
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Bishop Evans. |