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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life came to a close with the |
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passing of cherished husband, father, and grandfather James Eaves |
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of Tyler on November 28, 2006, at the age of 76, and his family and |
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friends seek to still the pain of loss by remembering his strength, |
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courage, and love; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to J. E. and Ethel Eaves in Pampa on August 26, |
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1930, Mr. Eaves was raised in Longview and graduated from Longview |
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schools in 1948; after his father's death, he benefited greatly |
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from the guidance of coaches Maco Stewart and Ted Jefferies of |
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Stephen F. Austin State University, and he attended college there |
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for his bachelor's degree; he later received his master of science |
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degree in Denton in 1957; and |
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WHEREAS, This respected leader enjoyed a 50-year career in |
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athletics, both as a player and as a coach, that made a positive |
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difference in the lives of countless young Texans; he began his |
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tenure in sports education at Texarkana under the guidance of |
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legendary coach Watty Myers, and he later served at Gainesville |
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High School, where he was one of the youngest individuals to coach |
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basketball at Gainesville Junior College; he then coached in Odessa |
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for seven years and taught in Mesquite before accepting a position |
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at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, alongside his high school |
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friend Don Barton; he ended his career at Chapel Hill Independent |
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School District, working as both a teacher and an administrator |
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before his 1987 retirement, when he moved to his farm; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, Coach Eaves gave generously of |
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his time and talents as a football official across East Texas and as |
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a member of several civic organizations; a Mason and a Shriner, he |
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served as circus chairman for Sharon Shrine Temple in Tyler for |
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seven years and was a permanent contributor to the Shriners |
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Hospitals for Children; he was also a member of St. John's Masonic |
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Lodge No. 53 and Tyler's SBOA, which presented him its Outstanding |
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Award, as well as an honorary life member of the Great Southwest |
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Officials Association and an inductee of the Stephen F. Austin |
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State University Lettermen's Association Jacks of Honor; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of deep faith, Mr. Eaves was a longtime member |
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of First Baptist Church, worshiping there for 37 years; at the time |
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of his passing, he was a valued congregant of New Beginning Baptist |
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Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Eaves was held in the highest regard by all who |
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knew him, and he brought a generosity of spirit and an unfailing |
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integrity to all his endeavors; he built a life that was remarkably |
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rich in family and friends who will long treasure the memory of this |
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beloved man and think of him with great affection; now, therefore, |
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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 James Eaves and extend |
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sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of 52 |
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years, Lela Chism Eaves; to his daughter, Laura Bailey, and her |
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husband, Travis; to his son, Maco Eaves; to his daughter, Colleen |
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Ruppert, and her husband, Jim; to his granddaughters, Genie |
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Talkington, Ginger Talkington, and Tara Talkington; and to the |
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other family members and many friends of this much-loved man; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James |
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Eaves. |
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Goolsby |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 52 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
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vote of the House on March 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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