| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
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. |