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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of S. L. Deckard, Sr., on September 14, |
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2005, at the age of 83, brought a great loss to the family and many |
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friends of this lifelong Texan and longtime San Antonio resident; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Palestine on February 22, 1922, "Lee" |
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Deckard, along with his beloved wife, Doris, and their infant son, |
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Stan, moved to San Antonio in the early 1940s; the couple were later |
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blessed with a daughter, Cassandra, and their 64-year union was an |
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inspiration to family and friends alike; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Deckard attended St. Philip's College and earned |
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an associate's degree in business administration while working in |
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the hotel industry, and he went on to open Swing Inns Ice House in |
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the 1950s; the Deckard family also started a number of other |
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businesses, including two liquor stores, a hamburger stand, a bail |
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bond office, a thrift store, and a car lot; Mr. Deckard retired in |
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2000; and |
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WHEREAS, An active neighborhood and community leader, Mr. |
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Deckard became involved in local and state politics and civil |
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rights issues early in his life, and his participation spanned some |
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40 years, culminating with his service on the national board of the |
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NAACP; in addition to his service with the NAACP, he was a member of |
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the Good Government League and was active at the local and state |
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levels of the Democratic Party; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Deckard was one of the first African Americans |
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appointed to the San Antonio board of the National Conference of |
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Christians and Jews, now the National Conference of Community and |
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Justice; he also encouraged other civic-minded individuals to |
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pursue public service and seek elected office, and his efforts in |
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that regard have had a lasting impact; and |
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WHEREAS, Lee Deckard was a man of compassion and integrity, |
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and although he is deeply missed, his spirit remains strong in the |
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hearts of those whose lives he touched during his time on this |
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earth; 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 S. L. Deckard, Sr., |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Doris F. Deckard; to his son, Stan L. Deckard II; to his |
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daughter and son-in-law, Cassandra and Bruce Allen; to his |
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grandchildren and surrogate grandchildren; to his many cousins, |
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nephews, and nieces who are spread across the country, from Mobile, |
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Alabama, to Oakland, California; and to the many, many friends of |
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this beloved gentleman; 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 Lee |
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Deckard. |