| H.R. No. 1492 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Family and friends were saddened by the death of H. | ||
| Gordon Findlay of Kerrville on February 7, 2007, yet the memory of | ||
| his full and rewarding life remains to comfort them in their time of | ||
| loss; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born September 11, 1917, in Philadelphia, Gordon | ||
| Findlay distinguished himself early in life when, at the age of 13, | ||
| he became the youngest Eagle Scout in the United States and stood as | ||
| the honor guard to President Herbert Hoover at a Boy Scout Jamboree; | ||
| he earned his bachelor's degree from Maryville College in Tennessee | ||
| and went on to study at The University of Texas at Austin School of | ||
| Law; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In December 1941, Mr. Findlay enlisted in the U.S. | ||
| Navy and became an aviator, flying missions from five different | ||
| aircraft carriers during World War II and also serving on the USS | ||
| Hoggatt Bay; he participated in 14 engagements and six invasions | ||
| against the Japanese during his tour of duty and earned many honors | ||
| for his efforts, including six Silver Star Medals, two Bronze Star | ||
| Medals, two Presidential Citations, and a National Defense Service | ||
| Medal; and | ||
| WHEREAS, After his return to civilian life, Mr. Findlay | ||
| became a successful businessman, working for Luscombe Aircraft | ||
| Company and later Manley Popcorn Company; he also owned and | ||
| operated several Texas restaurants, including the Branding Iron, | ||
| the Pioneer House, and Gordo's; he and his wife, Bimmie Ford | ||
| Findlay, owned and operated Kickapoo Kamp, a private residential | ||
| girls' summer camp that had been started by Mrs. Findlay's family; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, A respected member of his community, Mr. Findlay | ||
| belonged to Kerrville's Masonic Lodge No. 697, was a 32nd-degree | ||
| Scottish Rite Mason for more than 60 years, and was a member of the | ||
| Alzafar Shrine in San Antonio for more than five decades; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Bravely serving his country in wartime and | ||
| contributing to the peace and prosperity of his adopted home state | ||
| of Texas, Gordon Findlay was held in the highest regard by all who | ||
| knew him, and he built a life that was remarkably rich in family, | ||
| friends, and accomplishments; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of H. Gordon Findlay and | ||
| offer sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife | ||
| of 64 years, Bimmie Ford Findlay; to his children, Gordon Findlay, | ||
| Jr., Laura Findlay Hodges, and Larry Findlay; to his grandchildren, | ||
| Brian Hodges and his wife, Angie, Chris Hodges, Greg Hodges, Trey | ||
| Findlay and his wife, Jenny, and Caitey, Tina, T. C., and Ford | ||
| Findlay; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
| Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of H. Gordon | ||
| Findlay. | ||
| Hilderbran | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 1492 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on April 27, 2007. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||