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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Joe A. Ragland, Sr., is celebrating the milestone of |
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his 90th birthday on June 1, 2007, and this occasion provides an apt |
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time to recognize him for his many contributions to his community; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Beaumont in 1917, Mr. Ragland developed a |
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fascination with the automobile early on, and after a period |
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working in oil and finance, he embarked on his longtime career in |
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car sales; he began in the 1940s as a Lincoln-Mercury salesman and |
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later became a sales manager for GM Chrysler; he went on to own and |
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operate his own used automobile lots as an independent businessman; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In 1967, Mr. Ragland moved his family to Angleton, |
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where he and his son, Joe A. Ragland, Jr., purchased the local |
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Chrysler Plymouth dealership; the Ragland Motor Company soon |
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outgrew its downtown location and a new facility was constructed |
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outside of town on Business Highway 288 in 1973; and |
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WHEREAS, Through Mr. Ragland's persistence and |
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determination, the business thrived, acquiring the Dodge line in |
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1974 and the Jeep franchise in 1996; now known as Ragland Dodge |
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Chrysler Jeep, this successful family business currently benefits |
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from the leadership of Mr. Ragland's son and the assistance of two |
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of his grandchildren; the company is celebrating its 40th |
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anniversary in 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, The senior Mr. Ragland has long held an active |
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interest in the automobile industry and still maintains drawings of |
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his Ragland Auto Plane, a flying automobile that he began designing |
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in 1948 and patented 10 years later; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, he has drawn on the support |
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and strength of his wife, June Allen, whom he wed in 1939; their |
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years together have been made even richer with the addition of their |
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children, June Ann Mann and Joe Ragland, Jr., and their six |
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grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A continual source of inspiration to his family and |
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to the employees at the Ragland dealership, Joe Ragland is fondly |
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described as "having gasoline in his veins"; he has passed on his |
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love of automobiles to his children and grandchildren, and it is |
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indeed a pleasure to honor this esteemed Texan for his many years of |
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service to the community of Angleton and for 90 years of life well |
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lived; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Joe A. Ragland, Sr., on the joyous |
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occasion of his 90th birthday and commend him for the continued |
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success of the Ragland Motor Company; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Ragland as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Bonnen |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2841 was adopted by the House on May |
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28, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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