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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Family and friends of Oliver Clark Thomas of Lubbock |
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were deeply saddened by his passing on December 16, 2008, at the age |
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of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, Soon after his birth in Hereford in 1914, he moved |
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with his parents to Greenville and later to Kaufman, where he |
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attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1930 and graduated from high |
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school two years later; he attended Southern Methodist University |
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and went on to earn a degree from Texas Tech University; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas joined the U.S. Army Air Forces one week |
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after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, became an |
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instructor at the Sheppard Field aircraft mechanics school in |
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Wichita Falls, and volunteered for the B-29 flight engineers |
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school; his plane was shot down during his 17th bombing mission over |
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Japan, and he spent time as a prisoner of war at Omori Prison Camp on |
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an island in Tokyo Bay until August 1945; from his hospital ship, he |
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witnessed the Japanese signing of the treaty of surrender on |
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September 2, 1945; and |
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WHEREAS, For his meritorious service during World War II, he |
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was awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Prisoner |
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of War Medal, Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, and Unit Citation; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, On his return to the states, Mr. Thomas founded |
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Thomas Brothers Office Outfitters in Lubbock with his brother, |
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Hughes, which he operated until his retirement in 1991; and |
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WHEREAS, He shared a fulfilling relationship with his wife, |
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the former Melba Watson, until the time of her passing in 1994; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his contributions as a business |
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owner, Mr. Thomas was a member of the Texas Good Roads Association, |
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and he previously served as chair of the highways, streets, and |
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roads committee of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce; he was also a |
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member of the Rotary Club, First United Methodist Church, and Phi |
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Kappa Psi Fraternity; and |
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WHEREAS, Oliver Thomas lived a purposeful life of service to |
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his community, state, and nation, and he will be remembered with |
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deep affection by all who were fortunate enough to share in his love |
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and friendship; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Oliver Clark Thomas and extend |
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deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his stepson, |
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Dr. Ray Moore; to his sisters-in-law, Kay Fulton and Joyce Woods; |
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and to his 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 House of |
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Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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Oliver Clark Thomas. |