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                                                                  H.R. No. 319



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Major General (Ret.) William A. Becker and his 
family are being honored by the Daughters of the American 
Revolution on Memorial Day weekend 2006 for their exceptional 
service to this country; and
	WHEREAS, General Becker was born on April 2, 1919, in the 
Becker Community, Kaufman County, on the farm settled by his 
great-grandfather in 1848; he received a diploma in 1936 from 
Kaufman High School, where he served as president of the junior 
class and his older brother, Walter "Pete" Becker, as president of 
the senior class; and
	WHEREAS, At Texas A&M University, Bill Becker served as cadet 
corps commander during his senior year; he graduated in 1941 with a 
degree in marketing and finance and a commission as a second 
lieutenant of field artillery, with orders to report for duty with 
the 1st Cavalry Division (Horse), at Fort Bliss; and
	WHEREAS, During World War II, General Becker saw action in 
the Southwest Pacific Theater and advanced in rank to lieutenant 
colonel, commanding the field artillery battalion in which he began 
his career; he later served in the Vietnam War, this time with the 
1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile); while assigned to that division 
he earned his wings as a helicopter pilot and won promotion to major 
general; and
	WHEREAS, Over the course of his 30-year career in the 
military, General Becker held a number of other command, staff, and 
school assignments, among them postings as an artillery advisor to 
the Venezuelan Army and as an army attaché to the U.S. Embassy in 
Belgrade, Yugoslavia; in his last active duty assignment, he served 
as chief of legislative liaison at the Pentagon; and
	WHEREAS, General Becker's numerous military awards include 
the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion 
of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf 
Cluster, and the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters; he also 
received decorations from Venezuela and the Republic of Vietnam; 
and
	WHEREAS, Following his retirement from the army in 1971, 
General Becker returned with his wife, Fran, and their three 
youngest children to the farm on which he was raised, and he quickly 
immersed himself in civic and business affairs; over the past 3-1/2 
decades he has operated a cattle ranch, opened a real estate 
brokerage, and served as president of Becker-Jiba Water Supply, 
president of the Kaufman-Van Zandt Board of Realtors, and director 
of the Texas Association of Realtors; and
	WHEREAS, In addition, General Becker has been active in a 
number of military-related organizations, and he has chaired the 
Academies Screening Committee for Congressmen Ray Roberts and Ralph 
Hall; he has also held membership in the Kaufman Lions Club, and he 
is a valued congregant of Becker United Methodist Church; and
	WHEREAS, General Becker's outstanding achievements have 
reflected further honor on a family that has resided in Kaufman 
County for many generations and that has long enjoyed the esteem of 
area citizens; this family has the rare distinction, moreover, of 
having two of its members hold high military rank at the same time:  
General Becker's brother Charles attained the grade of rear admiral 
in the United States Navy; and
	WHEREAS, Through his devotion to duty, honor, and this 
country, General Becker has embodied the highest ideals of the 
United States armed forces, and it is a privilege to join in 
recognizing the extensive service rendered by General Becker and 
his family to the development of this state and the defense of this 
nation; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby honor General William A. 
Becker and his family for their exemplary civic and military 
contributions; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for General Becker as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                Brown of Kaufman

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 319 was adopted by the House on May 
10, 2006, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House