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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The residents of Richardson lost a beloved and |
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respected community leader with the death of Billye Meyer, who |
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passed away on May 18, 2006, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on April 19, 1917, in Oklahoma, the former |
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Billye Lee spent her childhood in Paris, Texas, before moving to |
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Richardson as a youth to work as a housekeeper and caregiver during |
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the Great Depression; blessed with an unbeatable zest for life, she |
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quickly adapted to her new home and became a familiar presence at |
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community events; on August 25, 1935, she married the love of her |
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life, Lester Meyer, and the couple's family grew to include three |
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cherished children, Lady Ellen, Jim, and Johnnye; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Meyer joined the staff of Citizens Bank in the |
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early 1950s and soon made her mark as a friendly professional who |
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went out of her way to give each customer personal service; always |
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donning a unique hat, she began her career by making home visits to |
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the city's new residents with coupons that promised free ice cream |
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in exchange for their banking business; by the time of her |
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retirement in 1999, the "hat lady" had ascended to the rank of |
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executive vice president and was a member of the bank's board of |
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directors; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to helping those in need, Billye |
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Meyer was actively involved in numerous service organizations, |
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including the Rotary Club, Altrusa International, the Richardson |
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YMCA, the American Cancer Society, and the Network of Community |
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Ministries, which she served since its inception in 1986; moreover, |
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she shared her time and talents with many diverse groups, including |
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American Field Service for Students, the Boy and Girl Scouts, the |
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Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Texas A&M University, and American |
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Airlines, to name but a few; and |
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WHEREAS, She also passionately supported her adopted |
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hometown as it transformed from a quiet farming community to a hub |
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of the telecommunications industry, and among the myriad civic |
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institutions that benefited from her keen attention are the |
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Richardson Independent School District, the Richardson Fire and |
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Police Departments, the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, the |
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Richardson Public Library, Richardson General Hospital, Richland |
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College, the City Arts Commission, and the Richardson Jaycees, |
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which created the Billye Meyer Distinguished Service Award in honor |
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of her commitment to serving others; and |
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WHEREAS, A faithful member of the First United Methodist |
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Church of Richardson, Ms. Meyer was admired for her ability to rally |
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and organize congregants to accomplish church goals; and |
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WHEREAS, Billye Meyer uplifted countless lives with her |
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compassion, generosity, and infectious enthusiasm, and although |
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she will be deeply missed, her dedication to the needs of |
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Richardson's residents serves as an inspiration and tremendous |
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example to all those she left behind; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Billye Meyer and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her |
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children, Lady Ellen Germond and Johnnye Summerson; to her |
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grandchildren, Major Robert Barr, James Barr, Archie Carnes, Amy |
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Mack, Jacquie McCunn, Jim Vogel, Becky Smith, and Ashley Vogel; to |
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her 18 great-grandchildren; and to her other relatives and many |
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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 Billye |
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Meyer. |