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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The 75th birthday of an esteemed Texan is a most |
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joyous occasion, and on April 14, 2007, Homer L. Thornton, Jr., of |
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Paris is celebrating this significant milestone in his life; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Graham in 1932, Homer Thornton graduated in |
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1949 from Graham High School, where he excelled in academics and |
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lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track; he went on |
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to serve as a member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University |
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before graduating cum laude with a bachelor's degree in animal |
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husbandry in 1954; commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. |
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Air Force, he served his country for two years and rose to the rank |
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of first lieutenant; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Thornton has enjoyed successful careers in both |
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ranching and accounting, beginning with owning and operating the |
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TNT Ranch in Kiamichi for more than a decade; after obtaining a |
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bachelor's of business administration in accounting from East Texas |
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State University in 1970, he served for many years as comptroller of |
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the Paris Milling Company & Special X Feeds and subsequently |
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founded his own certified public accounting firm; moreover, he has |
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served on the board of directors of First Federal Community Bank for |
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more than 30 years; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to pursuing his professional endeavors, |
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Mr. Thornton has shared his time and talents with several community |
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organizations, serving as president of the Lamar County Chamber of |
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Commerce, the Paris Rotary Club, the Paris Education Foundation |
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(P.E.F.), and the Lamar County A&M Club Foundation; a Paul Harris |
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Fellow, he directed the 2006 J. T. Davis Memorial Golf Tournament, a |
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P.E.F. fund-raiser, and he continues to benefit P.E.F. as its |
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treasurer; he is also a valued member of Central Presbyterian |
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Church, where he serves as an elder and a Sunday school teacher; and |
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WHEREAS, In June 2007 Mr. Thornton and his wife, Caroleen |
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Turner Thornton, will celebrate 55 years of marriage, and they are |
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the proud parents of three children, Julianne Thornton Shipley, |
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Alice Thornton McQuitty, and Homer Lee Thornton III; in his leisure |
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time, Mr. Thornton also enjoys spending time with his nine |
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grandchildren and his great-grandson, golfing, and building model |
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trains; and |
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WHEREAS, A proud resident of East Texas, Homer Thornton has |
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contributed to his community with vision, dedication, and |
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generosity, and he may indeed reflect with pride on 75 years of a |
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life well lived; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby congratulate Homer L. Thornton, Jr., on the occasion of his |
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75th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Thornton as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |