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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Wesley B. Roberts has dedicated half a |
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century of his life to the people of the Lone Star State through his |
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work as a member of the Texas House of Representatives and as a |
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lobbyist; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Lena and Charles Roberts in the small West |
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Texas town of Knott on January 3, 1926, Wesley Roberts grew up in |
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Andrews, where his family ran the Andrews County News and later |
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created Roberts Publishing, which continues to publish newspapers |
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in West Texas cities today; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts served his country in World War II as a |
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radio technician in the United States Navy; following the war, he |
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enrolled at Baylor University; an outstanding member of the |
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school's football team, he was recruited to play professionally but |
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chose a career in business and government instead; and |
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WHEREAS, During the 1950s and early 1960s, Mr. Roberts owned |
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and operated an Esso distribution plant in Seminole; it was during |
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that period that he first ran for public office, and he campaigned |
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with the slogan, "Honest, capable, and experienced -- a vote for |
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Roberts is a vote for the Texas economy"; and |
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WHEREAS, He began his service in the Texas Legislature in |
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1957, representing residents of Dawson, Lynn, Gaines, and Andrews |
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Counties in House District 99 and served for three consecutive |
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sessions; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1963, Mr. Roberts became a lobbyist, and over the |
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course of his 43-year career, he represented such clients as |
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Southwest Airlines, the Texas Forestry Association, Atmos Energy, |
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the Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, and Entex; he is known |
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as the "godfather" of the legislative roundtable breakfasts at the |
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Driskill, and later the Stephen F. Austin Hotel, a session |
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tradition that began in 1965 and continues to this day; he retired |
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in 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts has always taken great pride and |
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pleasure in his family, which today includes his wife of 45 years, |
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Flora Nance Roberts, their children, Charlie, Lida, Suzanna, Scott, |
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and Julie, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Those Texans who give of their time and talents to |
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benefit the larger community make the world a better place, and |
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Wesley Roberts is indeed one such person; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Wesley B. Roberts for his many efforts in |
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behalf of the state and commend him on his notable professional |
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achievements; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Roberts as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |