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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Earl M. Swindle Sr. of Houston on April 3, 2025, at the |
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age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Bernice and W. M. Swindle, Earl Swindle |
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was born in Shelby County on May 20, 1935, and he was blessed with |
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the companionship of 10 siblings, Perry, David, Kathy, Charles, |
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Earnest, Retha, Pamela, Donna, Dedra, and Dadra; he graduated from |
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Jack Yates High School in 1953, and he went on to earn a bachelor's |
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degree in business administration from Texas Southern University in |
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1957; shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and he |
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served as a sharpshooter for three years until his honorable |
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discharge; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Swindle wed the former Minerva Ellen Higgins on |
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November 13, 1960, and the couple shared a rewarding marriage that |
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spanned 37 years until her passing in 1997; he took great pride in |
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their two sons, Earl and Rodney, and he had the pleasure of seeing |
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their treasured family grow to include three grandsons, Issaiah, |
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Zane, and Jarrett; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1960, Mr. Swindle began his career at the Gulf |
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Oil Company as an entry-level executive; later that year, he |
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accepted an offer to become one of the first African American |
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proprietors of a Gulf Oil retail service and fuel operation; he |
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subsequently opened Swindle's Gulf Service Station, later known as |
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Swindle's Chevron; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Swindle's establishment became |
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a gathering place for Third Ward community members from all walks of |
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life; in recognition of its success, he was awarded the Gulf Oil |
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Company Gold Service Award five times, and he also served twice as |
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president of the company's honor council; he employed many of his |
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extended family members, and he also benefited from his wife's |
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assistance for more than three and a half decades; after closing the |
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station in 2001, he worked briefly for Randall Reed Ford before |
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embarking on a 17-year tenure with the The Home Depot; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to assisting future generations, |
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Mr. Swindle sponsored a number of youth sports teams and |
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development programs; he also collaborated with area high schools |
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to create a workforce training program, and he frequently gave of |
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his time and resources to help Texas Southern University students |
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with automotive repairs; in addition, he supported numerous local |
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churches; and |
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WHEREAS, Earl Swindle lived a life that was rich in family, |
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friends, and community service, and those who were privileged to |
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share in his love and affection will forever hold him close in their |
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hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Earl M. Swindle Sr. and extend |
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heartfelt condolences to his family and friends; 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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Earl Swindle. |