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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The residents of the Lone Star State lost a |
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decorated Vietnam veteran with the passing of Jerry Mareland |
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Johnson of Zavalla on March 26, 2007, at the age of 58; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Henry and Dorothy Johnson on April 11, 1948, |
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in Beaumont, Mr. Johnson graduated from Robert E. Lee High School |
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in 1966; he attended Sam Houston State University until his |
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enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1967; called to action in Vietnam, he |
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served as a surgical assistant in 1968 and 1969 and received the |
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Purple Heart for being wounded in action; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1974, Jerry Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Navy and |
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served on the USS El Paso; during his tenure as a sailor, he got the |
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opportunity to demonstrate his athletic abilities as a pitcher for |
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the Tidewater Tides baseball team; in 1980, Jerry Johnson left the |
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navy and began working as a designated representative for the |
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Angelina and Neches River Authority; in 1999, he became the general |
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manager of the Brookeland Fresh Water Supply District in Jasper |
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County; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his work responsibilities, |
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Mr. Johnson gave freely of his time and talents to assist his fellow |
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citizens; after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, he volunteered for 14 |
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days with a search and rescue team; he was also an active member of |
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the Lufkin-Nacogdoches Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America |
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and of Rockland Baptist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, An admirable American who bravely served his country |
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in two different branches of the military, Jerry Johnson was held in |
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the highest regard by all who knew him, and he will be deeply |
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missed; 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 Jerry Mareland |
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Johnson and offer sincere condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his wife, Johnnie Johnson; to his daughter, Krystal Hampton and |
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her husband, Ian; to his granddaughters, Skye and Autumn Hampton; |
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to his brothers, Kyle and Hank Johnson; to his brother-in-law, Doug |
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Weaver; to his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dwight and |
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Kathleen Walker; to his sisters-in-law, Brenda Helton and Debbie |
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Brookshire and her fiance, Ken Stephens; to his nine nieces and |
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nephews; 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 Jerry |
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Johnson. |