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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 528
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In Memory |
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of |
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William Henry Griffith, Jr. |
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WHEREAS, Family and friends of William Henry Griffith, Jr., |
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of Austin mourn his passing on February 4, 2007, at the age of 85; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 5, 1921, |
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Bill Griffith graduated from Fenwick High School near Chicago and |
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later earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty, Mr. Griffith |
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served four years in the United States Army in the South Pacific |
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during World War II, reaching the rank of captain in the |
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96th Infantry Division; he received two Purple Hearts, including |
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one for the wound he received in action on April 1, 1945, during |
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the assault on Okinawa; and |
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WHEREAS, Three weeks after returning home from the war, he |
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married Margaret Hilger, and together they moved to Port Arthur, |
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where Mr. Griffith worked for Texaco, helping to build and manage |
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petrochemical facilities; and |
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WHEREAS, Retiring in 1982, Mr. Griffith continued to work |
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as a consultant for the firm of Stone and Webster, which |
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constructs refineries all over the world; he and his wife enjoyed |
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the adventure of living in such far-flung places as Malaysia and |
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Indonesia; and |
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WHEREAS, After the death of Mrs. Griffith in 1985, |
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Mr. Griffith kept active by traveling to visit his children and |
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grandchildren all over Texas and the Midwest; a devout Catholic, |
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he was active with many charities, from the Lions Club to a group |
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of volunteers that provides free tax advice at the local library; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Bill Griffith was a gentle soul and a devoted |
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family man who contributed selflessly to his community, and he |
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has left behind many fond memories that will be forever treasured |
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by those who were privileged to share in his love and friendship; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, |
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80th Legislature, hereby honor the life of William Henry Griffith, Jr., |
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and offer sincere condolences to his family: his sons, |
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William Henry Griffith III and his wife, Shayne, and |
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Anthony Griffith and his wife, Mary Lou; his daughters, |
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Carol Ramberg and her husband, Eric, Joan Wiggins and her |
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husband, Dane, Mary Pat Wilhelmi and her husband, James, and |
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Catherine Cahan and her husband, Richard; his sisters, |
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Mary Margaret Lawson, Kathleen Theado, and Angela Skrivanich; |
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his 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and to his |
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other 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 his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns |
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this day, it do so in memory of William Henry Griffith, Jr. |
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Janek |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 20, 2007, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |