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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments may bring comfort to the many |
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individuals who are mourning the loss of Denton civic leader L. A. |
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Nelson, Jr., who passed away on June 14, 2006, at the age of 80; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Lucy Bernice Wilson and Luther Aldrich |
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Nelson, Sr., L. A. Nelson was born in Hugo, Oklahoma, on April 5, |
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1926; following his graduation from the local high school, he |
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served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman attended North Texas State |
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Teachers College, now the University of North Texas, from 1946 to |
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1948 and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma; recalled |
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to active naval duty in 1950, he served for 17 months during the |
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Korean War before returning to school; he completed a degree in |
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marketing at OU in 1952 and subsequently earned a law degree from |
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The University of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Nelson devoted much of his time and talents to |
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his beloved community; he served on the Denton City Council from |
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1966 to 1970, and again in 1974; in 1969, the council appointed him |
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mayor, a position he held until 1970; among his many notable |
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contributions, he supported the creation of Ray Roberts Lake, one |
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of two lakes from which the city gets its drinking water; and |
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WHEREAS, A past president of the Denton Chamber of Commerce, |
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Mr. Nelson further lent his time to serve on the Flow Memorial |
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Hospital Board of Managers; he was also a leader in his chosen |
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profession, and his peers paid tribute to his legal acumen when they |
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elected him president of the Denton County Bar Association in 1959; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Combining his passion for sporting events at the |
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University of North Texas with his organizational talent and |
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energy, Mr. Nelson was tremendously successful in raising funds for |
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the university's athletic programs; his unflagging support was also |
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demonstrated on the sidelines on game day and at every Mean Green |
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Club meeting; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Nelson was a devoted family man who derived |
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great joy from spending time with his loved ones; together with his |
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wife, Martha, he was the parent of six treasured children, Nancy, |
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Michael, Susan, Marcella, Carey Currin, and the late Luther Aldrich |
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Nelson III; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired by many for his wit and wisdom, L. A. Nelson, |
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Jr., benefited countless people over the course of his lifetime as a |
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strong advocate for legal clients and friends, as well as for the |
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greater community; and |
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WHEREAS, Although he is deeply missed, Mr. Nelson's family |
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and friends may take comfort from the fact that his was truly a life |
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well lived, and his radiant spirit will continue to shine brightly |
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in the hearts of all those who were privileged to share his love and |
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friendship; 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 L. A. Nelson, Jr., and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Martha Len Nelson; to his children, Nancy Black, Michael Nelson, |
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Susan Wright, Marcella Butler, and Carey Currin; to his eight |
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grandchildren and his great-granddaughter; to his brother, Dr. R. |
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John Nelson; to his sister, Sue Wortz; and to his other relatives |
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and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House |
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of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of L. A. |
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Nelson, Jr. |