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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The state of Texas lost a distinguished businessman |
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and leader with the passing of Paul Derald Meek of Fredericksburg on |
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June 15, 2007, at the age of 76; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in McAllen to Valley pioneers William Van Meek |
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and Martha Mary Sharp Meek on August 15, 1930, Paul Meek earned a |
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bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from The University of |
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Texas at Austin; he began a noteworthy career in the petrochemical |
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industry with Humble Oil and Refining Company in Baytown and went on |
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to work for Cosden Oil and Chemical Company in Big Spring; after |
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serving as president of Cosden and as a member of the board of |
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directors of its parent company, FINA, he moved to Dallas in 1976 to |
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assume the posts of chief operating officer and president of FINA; |
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he later served as its chief executive officer and chairman of the |
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board before retiring to his Hill Country ranch in 1996; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1989, Governor Bill Clements appointed Mr. Meek |
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to the Public Utility Commission, which he chaired until 1992; |
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moreover, he served as chair of the Engineering Foundation Advisory |
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Council at UT Austin, as director of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation, |
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and as a member of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Board of |
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Visitors, the UT Longhorn Foundation, the UT Chancellor's Council, |
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and the UT McDonald Observatory Board of Visitors; named a |
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Distinguished Engineering Graduate by his alma mater, he also |
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sought to encourage high school students to pursue careers in |
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science, engineering, and math as an advisor and benefactor of |
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IGNITE, an educational nonprofit with those aims; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Meek shared 40 years of marriage with Betty |
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Robertson Meek, and the couple were blessed with four daughters, |
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Paula, Katheryn, Carol Ann, and Linda; following the death of his |
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first wife, he was fortunate enough to find love a second time with |
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Sue Etchison Meek, and they enjoyed a rewarding nine-year union; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Through his expertise, dedication, and guidance, |
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Paul Meek contributed tremendously to the Lone Star State, and he |
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leaves behind a legacy that will continue to resonate for any years |
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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 hereby pay tribute to the life of Paul Derald Meek and |
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extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Sue Etchison Meek; to his daughters, Paula Burford and her husband, |
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Scott, Katheryn Hasemann and her husband, Charles, Carol Ann Miller |
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and her husband, Rusty, and Linda Meek; to his grandchildren, Mary |
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Catherine and Charlie Burford, Margaret and Andy Hasemann, Natalie, |
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Paul, and Michelle Miller, Robert and Mary Catherine Russo, and |
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Samantha and Forrest Poorman; to his stepdaughters, Tracy Russo and |
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her husband, Bobby, and Christy Garrison and her husband, Kenny; |
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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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Paul Derald |
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Meek. |