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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The tragic death of Game Warden Justin Philip Hurst |
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of El Campo on March 17, 2007, has brought a great loss to his |
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Southeast Texas community and to his fellow law enforcement |
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professionals throughout the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on March 17, 1973, Justin Hurst was killed in |
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the line of duty on the morning of his 34th birthday, following the |
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pursuit of a man suspected of illegal hunting; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hurst graduated in 1991 from Conroe High School |
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and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in wildlife ecology from |
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Texas A&M University; during college, he assisted with wildlife |
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research projects at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and |
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subsequently served as a biologist with the agency for seven years; |
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in 2002, after graduating from the 48th Game Warden Academy, he |
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began his career as a peace officer in Wharton County; and |
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WHEREAS, An avid outdoorsman since youth, Mr. Hurst worked as |
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a waterfowl guide in high school, gaining an extensive knowledge of |
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migratory birds that made him especially well suited to work in the |
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Gulf prairie region; his expertise was highly respected by his |
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colleagues, and he was often called on to teach waterfowl |
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identification classes at the Game Warden Academy; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hurst impressed others with his strong work |
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ethic, his determination to succeed, and his quiet and unassuming |
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leadership; he was the devoted husband of Amanda Wilcox Hurst, with |
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whom he enjoyed many special times at Tres Palacios Bay, and he |
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delighted in his new role as father to their infant son, Kyle Hunter |
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Hurst; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hurst was a member of the Texas Game Warden |
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Association, the Texas Wildlife Association, Ducks Unlimited, and |
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the Coastal Conservation Association; in addition, he was a valued |
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member of the First United Methodist Church of El Campo, where he |
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served on the administrative board; and |
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WHEREAS, Justin Hurst possessed a genuine love of the |
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outdoors and an enthusiasm for protecting its bounty for the |
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enjoyment of his fellow Texans; although his life has ended far too |
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soon, it is fitting to remember the passion he brought to all his |
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endeavors and the positive way in which he touched the lives of |
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those who were privileged to know him; 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 Game Warden Justin |
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Philip Hurst and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Amanda Wilcox Hurst; to his son, Kyle Hunter |
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Hurst; to his parents, Allen and Pat Hurst; to his brother, Greg |
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Hurst; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it |
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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 Justin |
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Philip Hurst. |