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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Jimmie Hall Kester, a respected expert in the field |
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of juvenile justice and a cherished friend to many, passed away on |
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June 18, 2009, at the age of 72; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Velman "Jack" and Sallie Kester, Jim |
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Kester was born on August 31, 1936, in Reed, Oklahoma, and spent his |
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early years on a cotton farm; his family later moved throughout the |
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southwestern United States, where he enjoyed an adventurous |
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childhood along with his older brother, Jack; at the age of 18, Mr. |
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Kester joined the U.S. Navy, and while he was in college, he |
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continued his service as a member of the Naval Reserve; he went on |
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to earn bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the |
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University of Oklahoma and a master's degree in social service |
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administration from the University of Chicago, and he also pursued |
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doctoral studies in philosophy; and |
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WHEREAS, After working as a public school teacher and a |
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social worker in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood in the |
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1960s, Mr. Kester focused his career on helping at-risk youth; he |
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served as director of the Oklahoma Council on Crime and Delinquency |
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before accepting a position in the Criminal Justice Division of the |
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Texas Governor's Office in 1975; there he introduced innovative |
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programs and improved services for at-risk youth, and his ability |
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to foster positive working relationships with others made him a |
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valued public servant over the course of three decades and five |
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different gubernatorial administrations; on his retirement, he |
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remained a tireless advocate for troubled young people as a member |
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of the Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and as a board |
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member of the Council on At-Risk Youth; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kester further contributed to his community as a |
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mentor to Austin public school students and as a member of the |
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American Legion, Travis Post 76; moreover, he taught Sunday school |
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and participated in such church programs as the Stephen Ministry |
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and Emmaus; in his leisure time, he took pleasure in studying naval |
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history and in tending to his property in the Texas Hill Country, |
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which he affectionately called "The Land"; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Kester was an inspiring role model to friends, |
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family, and colleagues alike, who were drawn to his kind and |
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generous nature, as well as to his gift for finding meaning in the |
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everyday; although he will be deeply missed by all those who were |
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privileged to know him, he leaves behind a legacy that will continue |
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to resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Jimmie Hall Kester and extend sincere condolences to the members |
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of his family: to his wife, Metha; to his children, Steve Kester and |
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his wife, Ellen, Jennifer Nielsen and her husband, Rod, Elizabeth |
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Valdez, Amy Kura, and Megan Massey and her husband, Lance; to his |
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grandchildren, Lauryn Saenz and her husband, Mario, Paul, Savannah, |
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Ava, Kathryn, Tess, Sarah, and Thomas; to his brother, Jack Kester |
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and his wife, Lawanda; to his nieces, Lisa and Laura; and to his |
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other relatives and 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 Jim Kester. |
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Madden |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 65 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
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vote of the House on July 2, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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