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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, San Antonio resident Arbie Bland celebrated his |
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100th birthday on April 13, 2007, and this notable milestone is |
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indeed deserving of special recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of John and Dollie Alexander Bland, Mr. |
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Bland was born in Texarkana and attended Macedonia School in that |
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city; he moved to San Antonio in 1928; and |
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WHEREAS, Arbie Bland married the former Dorothy Wheeler in |
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1930 and the couple shared a devoted union for 58 years until Mrs. |
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Bland's passing in 1988; their three sons and two daughters grew up |
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in a household where the importance of showing respect was taught at |
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an early age and whose regular activities included participating in |
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family prayer, attending Sunday school and church, doing chores, |
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and listening to music and news on the radio; over the years, Mr. |
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Bland has had the good fortune to welcome the birth of 11 |
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grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and five |
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great-great-grandchildren into his family; and |
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WHEREAS, During World War II, Mr. Bland saw duty in New Guinea |
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and the Philippines as a member of the United States Army; following |
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his discharge, he returned to San Antonio and took a job at Fort Sam |
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Houston, where he was employed for two decades before retiring in |
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1967; over the years, he has also worked as a part-time carpenter |
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and neighborhood barber; and |
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WHEREAS, A great storyteller, Arbie Bland can captivate |
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listeners with tales from the Bible, accounts of his experiences in |
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the Second World War, and anecdotes about the times he saw gangsters |
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such as John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd; he also draws hearty |
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laughs with his version of Michael Jackson's moonwalk, while he |
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counts as his own favorite comic performer Rodney Dangerfield; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Bland still maintains a current Texas driver's |
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license and resides in the home that he and his sons built 60 years |
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ago, and he continues to enjoy working in his yard; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman was a Sunday school teacher |
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for intermediate boys at Corinth Baptist Church and Mt. Zion |
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Baptist Church for more than three decades, and he has been a valued |
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member of Mt. Zion for 56 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Arbie Bland has long held a respected place in his |
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community, and it is a distinct pleasure to honor him as he |
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celebrates 100 years of meaningful memories and achievements; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Arbie Bland on the joyous occasion |
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of his 100th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Bland as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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McClendon |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2099 was adopted by the House on May |
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25, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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