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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Laredo lost an admired philanthropist |
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with the passing of Peggy Jean Newman on April 19, 2024, at the age |
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of 92; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of William and Beulah Beheler, the |
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former Peggy Beheler was born on August 6, 1931; she married the |
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love of her life, Bernard "B. P." Newman, and they were blessed with |
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four children, Joel, David, Mark, and Nancy; through the years, her |
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treasured family grew to include 11 grandchildren and 21 |
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great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Newman invested in real estate through various |
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entities, and she served B. P. Newman Investment Company as a member |
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of the board and as president; in 1997, she became the first woman |
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to serve on the board of the International Bank of Commerce, and she |
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continued in that position for two decades; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to her community, Mrs. Newman |
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served on the boards of many nonprofit organizations, including the |
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United Way of Laredo; she donated land to the group and was actively |
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involved in the effort to build a home for its operations; she also |
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gave generously of her time and talents to such organizations as the |
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Salvation Army, Casa de Misericordia, Habitat for Humanity, the |
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Laredo Food Bank, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation; in 2020, she was |
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recognized by Catholic Charities for her years of selfless work to |
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advance its mission; moreover, she and her husband were champions |
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of higher education, playing important roles in the development of |
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Texas A&M International University, holding membership in the TAMIU |
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Heritage Society, and establishing two endowed scholarships at the |
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university; she was also a supporter of the Alzheimer's |
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Association, and she was instrumental in the success of the Laredo |
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Walk to End Alzheimer's; and |
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WHEREAS, A valued member of the First Baptist Church, |
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Mrs. Newman was guided in all her endeavors by her strong faith; |
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above all, she was devoted to her family and cherished the time she |
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spent with her loved ones; she was preceded in death by her husband |
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and two sons, Joel and David; and |
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WHEREAS, The life of Peggy Newman stands as an inspiring |
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example of civic engagement, and those she left behind will forever |
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cherish their memories of her warmth, grace, and kindness; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Peggy Jean Newman |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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children, Mark Newman and his wife, Darla, and Nancy De Anda and her |
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husband, Javier; to her daughter-in-law, Ana Laura Newman; to her |
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11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; and to her other |
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relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Peggy Jean |
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Newman. |