SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 883
       WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
commemorates the life of Benjamin Ellis Pickett, Sr., who died
August 18, 2006, at the age of 86; and
       WHEREAS, Ben Pickett was a highly decorated veteran of
World War II and the first paid fire chief of Liberty; he led one
of the best trained volunteer departments in the state for almost
30 years and founded the city's professional emergency medical
services program; and
       WHEREAS, He was born on December 28, 1919, to
Mary Ellis Pickett and Ernest William Pickett; he attended the
Shriner Institute in Kerrville and The University of Texas;
during World War II, he was a captain in the United States Army
Air Corps and flew 65 missions over France and Italy; he married
Ellen Watson of Hull in 1949, and they had four children; and
       WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Liberty, he was dedicated
to public service and revered for his quiet courage and his
effective leadership; he joined the Liberty Fire Department as a
volunteer when he was 13 years old, and he retired at the age of
68; he served on the city council from 1948 to 1951 and also
served as a municipal judge and as Liberty's first police
commissioner; in recognition of his many contributions to the
city's fire department, the firefighting training center in
Liberty was named in his honor; and
       WHEREAS, After he retired, he taught himself to use a
computer and applied his newly acquired skills in researching his
family history and the history of his beloved hometown; and
       WHEREAS, Ben Pickett was a generous and compassionate man
noted for his warm sense of humor, his gentle manner, his keen
insight, and his wise counsel; he was a devoted husband, father,
and grandfather, and he leaves behind memories that will be
treasured for years to come by his family and many friends; now,
therefore, be it
       RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
80th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Benjamin Ellis Pickett, Sr., and extend sincere condolences
to his bereaved family: his wife, Ellen; his son and
daughter-in-law, Benjamin Ellis Pickett, Jr., and Deborah; his
daughters and sons-in-law, Laura and Gary Calfee, Lisa and
Clay Edmonds, and Amy and Neil Leibman; and his grandchildren
and great-grandchildren; and, be it further
       RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the
Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so
in memory of Benjamin Ellis Pickett, Sr.
Williams
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    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 25, 2007, by a
rising vote.
________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate
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     Member, Texas Senate