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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of New Boston lost a dedicated civic |
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leader and friend of the community with the passing of Dr. Paul |
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Henry Atkinson on November 19, 2006, at the age of 74; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Old Salem in Bowie County on September 10, |
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1932, Paul Henry Atkinson attended James Bowie High School in Simms |
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before earning degrees from Sam Houston State University and the |
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Baylor Dental School; he married Vira Jo Bennett on August 15, 1953, |
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and shared 52 happy years of marriage with his beloved wife before |
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her passing on January 31, 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, A caring and respected dentist in the Texarkana area |
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for many years, "Dr. Paul" was actively engaged in his community; a |
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member of the Texarkana Rotary Club, he also maintained a longtime |
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interest in public education, as evidenced by his service on the |
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Pleasant Grove ISD Board of Trustees from 1965 to 1974; he served as |
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secretary of the school board for a year and led the group as |
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president for five years; he also enjoyed professional affiliations |
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with the Ark-La-Tex Dental Society, which he served as president, |
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and the Texarkana Dental Society; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Atkinson continued his involvement in community |
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life after his move to New Boston; a member of the New Boston City |
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Council from 1980 to 1995, he was active with the New Boston Chamber |
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of Commerce for many years, serving as chamber president in 1984, |
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and earning that organization's prestigious Lloyd Wilson |
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Outstanding Citizen Award in 1987; and |
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WHEREAS, Perhaps his most enduring achievement was his role |
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in the establishment of the New Boston Public Library, a facility |
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that existed only nominally before Dr. Atkinson took on the |
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challenge of organizing and modernizing the library so that it |
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better served the public; he served as chair of the city's library |
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board for more than 25 years; he was also active with the New Boston |
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Lions Club; skilled with his hands, he enjoyed working in metal and |
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was trained as a master historic knife craftsman; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his commendable service to the communities |
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of Texarkana and New Boston, Paul Henry Atkinson improved the lives |
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of countless citizens; a man of integrity and loyalty, he is deeply |
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missed, but his legacy of good works ensures that he will not soon |
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be forgotten; 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 Dr. Paul Henry |
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Atkinson and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: |
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to his daughter, Robin Woodson, and her husband, Joe; to his sons, |
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Dr. Jeff Atkinson and his wife, Dr. Janee Atkinson, and Kevin |
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Atkinson; to his brother, Hamp Atkinson; to his grandchildren, |
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Grant Woodson and his wife, Lauri, Emily Atkinson, and Kyle |
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Atkinson; to his friend, Ruth Talbot; and to his other relatives and |
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many friends; and, be it 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 Dr. Paul |
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Atkinson. |