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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The certain knowledge of a life well lived may |
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temper the profound sadness felt by all who loved Alma Loucille |
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Smartt Lawler of La Porte, who died on May 24, 2007, at the age of |
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82; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of the Lone Star State, "Lou" Lawler was |
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born on February 19, 1925, in Cisco; she married Colonel Jack D. |
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Lawler in 1946, and the pair together raised a loving family and |
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established a number of successful businesses; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Lawler was dedicated to helping others |
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throughout her life; after graduating from Cisco High School, she |
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moved with her parents to San Francisco, where she sold war bonds |
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and worked in a munitions factory; returning to Texas and settling |
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in La Porte, she shared her time with a variety of worthwhile |
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organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the American |
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Heart Association, the Salvation Army, the La Porte Civic Club, and |
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the local historical society; and |
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WHEREAS, A charter member of the Beta Sigma Phi Master |
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Chapter, this respected civic leader became the first female |
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president of the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce and the |
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first female director of the La Porte State Bank; she also served |
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her community as an election judge for more than 25 years and |
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enjoyed over a half-century of membership with First United |
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Methodist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, Mrs. Lawler worked with the |
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Houston International Seafarers' Center Board to build a center for |
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sailors entering the Port of Houston in La Porte; this notable |
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effort grew into a 5,000-square-foot home away from home that |
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served thousands of individuals from around the world; she also |
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received training as an ecumenical port chaplain and later earned a |
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medal of honor from the Pope for the ministry she established to |
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serve seafarers; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Lawler was also recognized with the Volunteer |
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of the Year award from the Neighborhood Center for La Porte, the |
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Steel Magnolia Distinction for southeast Harris County, and the Gus |
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Groos Humanitarian Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Lou Lawler had an immeasurable impact on the lives |
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of countless members of her community, and her compassion, |
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kindness, and strength will long be remembered by those whose lives |
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she so richly blessed with her friendship and involvement; 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 pay tribute to the life of Alma Loucille Smartt |
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Lawler and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to |
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her daughter, Patsy Frey; to her son, Hal Lawler and his wife, Jan; |
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to her grandchildren, Kathryn and John Lawler; to her |
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step-grandchildren, Todd Solomen and Jeremy Frey; to Sonny Hilden, |
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whom she raised as a son; to her sister, Ruth Lewis; to her |
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sisters-in-law, Midge, Madge, and Vesta Smartt; and to her other |
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relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Alma |
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Loucille Smartt Lawler. |
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Smith of Harris |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2984 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 28, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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