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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of John |
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Buttrill King of Rockwall, who passed away on December 22, 2006, at |
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the age of 66, bringing to a close an exemplary life of public |
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service; and |
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WHEREAS, John King was born in 1940 in Kenedy; while growing |
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up, he learned the importance of hard work and determination from |
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his father, J. T. King, who later served as the head football coach |
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and athletic director at Texas Tech University; after completing |
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high school, John King, likewise, spent time at Texas Tech, |
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graduating in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in industrial |
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management; and |
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WHEREAS, Answering the call of his country, Mr. King began a |
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long and highly decorated career in the United States Air Force; |
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trained as a pilot on the RF-4 Phantom aircraft, the leading fighter |
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jet of its day, he served first in Vietnam and later carried out a |
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variety of assignments, specializing in air reconnaissance; |
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clocking more than 6,000 hours of flying time, this accomplished |
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aviator flew many top secret intelligence missions whose results |
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were often reported directly to the president of the United States; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In 1989, Lieutenant Colonel King assumed command of |
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Detachment 2 of the 2762d Logistics Squadron at E-Systems based in |
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Greenville, a post he held until his retirement in 1993; during his |
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distinguished 29-year military career, he received numerous |
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commendations, including the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying |
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Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, |
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the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation |
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Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Presidential Unit |
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Citation; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his impressive tenure in the military, he |
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became a civic leader in the town of Rockwall, serving on the |
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Planning and Zoning Commission and the Economic Development |
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Corporation and as president of the Rockwall Breakfast Rotary Club; |
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he was a member of the Rockwall City Council for seven years, where |
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his reputation for integrity, compassion, eloquence, and calmness |
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earned him the nickname of "the wise one"; and |
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WHEREAS, John King was a devoted family man and a positive |
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role model for his children and grandchildren; this respected |
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gentleman also inspired many others in the course of his productive |
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life, and his dedicated service to his country and local community |
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will not soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the life of John Buttrill King and offer |
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sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Marilyn King; to his son, Jim King, and his wife, Anne Marie; to his |
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daughter, Melinda Roberts, and her fiance, Joseph Crisp; to his |
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mother, Beth King; to his brothers, Chuck and Robert King; to his |
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sister, Elizabeth Griess; to his grandchildren, John and Gracie |
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King; and to his other relatives and 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 John |
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Buttrill King. |