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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends mourn the passing of Charles A. |
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James of Arlington, yet the memory of his full and rewarding life |
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may offer a measure of comfort in their time of loss; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Charles and Hazel James on March 12, 1921, in |
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Morris, Oklahoma, Charlie James grew up in the Wichita Falls area |
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and graduated from Clara High School; he attended East Texas State |
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Teachers College on a track scholarship, earning his degree in |
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1943; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his graduation, Mr. James enlisted in the |
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U.S. Navy; he completed Officer Candidate School at Notre Dame |
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University and bravely served his country in the South Pacific as a |
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Lieutenant JG aboard the USS Dauphin during World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. James returned to civilian life in 1946 and |
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began a career with Gifford Hill American Pipe Company that would |
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span four decades; through the years, he worked for the company in |
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Wichita Falls, where he was the firm's first Texas employee, and he |
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later held positions of increased responsibility in Victoria and |
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Dallas; in 1986 he retired from the firm, having distinguished |
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himself most recently as its vice president, secretary, and |
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treasurer; and |
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WHEREAS, A valued resident of Arlington since 1955, Mr. James |
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was an active member of the local Kiwanis Club and was chairman of |
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its audit committee for many years; he was also a longtime |
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congregant of First United Methodist Church, which he served as a |
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member of the finance committee and as head usher, and his other |
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civic contributions included service as a member of the board of |
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directors of the Rolling Hills Country Club and as a volunteer with |
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the Salvation Army; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. James was a man of many interests and enjoyed |
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hunting birds, playing golf and bridge, and square dancing and |
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traveling with his beloved wife, Hazel, whom he married in 1947; |
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together they were blessed with two children, Sharon and Larry, and |
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their family would later grow to include their grandchildren, |
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Michael, Andy, Jennifer, and Charli, and their |
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great-grandchildren, Cody, Kyle, Maci, and Kyndal; and |
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WHEREAS, A true and faithful friend to many, a devoted |
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husband, and a cherished father and grandfather, Charlie James will |
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be deeply missed by those who were privileged to share in his love |
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and 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 Charlie James and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family and to his 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Charlie |
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James. |