H.R. No. 860 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The community of Killeen has suffered a profound 1-2 loss with the passing of retired Major Mary Margaret Purcell on 1-3 March 19, 1995, at the age of 67; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A native of Harrisonburg, Virginia, she earned her 1-5 undergraduate degree from Madison College in 1950 and was employed 1-6 as a schoolteacher until February 9, 1954, when she enlisted in the 1-7 U.S. Army; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Assigned to the Adjutant General Corps, Major 1-9 Purcell received specialized training in the field of personnel 1-10 management and the French language and enjoyed a number of 1-11 challenging assignments before being stationed at Fort Hood in 1-12 1969; and 1-13 WHEREAS, During her distinguished tenure there, Major Purcell 1-14 was placed in charge of the III Corps and Fort Hood's Personnel 1-15 Transfer Station, in which capacity she was responsible for 1-16 processing people who were being discharged from the military, 1-17 including countless Vietnam veterans; and 1-18 WHEREAS, On April 30, 1974, this dedicated officer retired 1-19 from the armed forces herself, having attained the grade of major 1-20 and a number of well-deserved honors, including the National 1-21 Defense Service Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious 1-22 Service Medal; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Rather than restricting her activities, retirement 1-24 gave her even more time to devote to her interest in local affairs, 2-1 and she demonstrated her genuine desire to benefit others by 2-2 volunteering her services to numerous military and civic-oriented 2-3 organizations and committees, including the Fort Hood Area Retiree 2-4 Council, the Killeen Civic Art Guild, the St. Joseph School Board, 2-5 the board of the Central Texas Chapter of the Retired Officers 2-6 Association, the Fort Hood Officers Club and Advisory Council, and 2-7 others too numerous to mention; and 2-8 WHEREAS, In 1994, Major Purcell was honored by area residents 2-9 for the many significant contributions she made to the betterment 2-10 of her community when she was named the recipient of the "Hometown 2-11 Hero" award by the Killeen Chamber of Commerce; and 2-12 WHEREAS, In all aspects of her life, Major Mary Margaret 2-13 Purcell showed herself to be a person of tremendous integrity whose 2-14 strong sense of duty served as a proud reflection of her dedication 2-15 to the ideals of freedom and democracy; whether serving her country 2-16 or her community, this remarkable woman will long be remembered for 2-17 the lasting legacy of achievement she leaves behind; now, 2-18 therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of retired Major Mary 2-21 Margaret Purcell and extend sincere sympathy to her sister, 2-22 Kathleen Gordon of Harrisonburg, and to the many other friends and 2-23 relatives of this esteemed individual; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of 2-26 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Major 2-27 Purcell.