| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Residents of Kerrville lost a beloved neighbor and |
|
|
community leader with the death of Dr. Gene Atkinson on October 18, |
|
|
2008, at the age of 83; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born in Houston on June 20, 1925, Gene Atkinson was |
|
|
the son of Smith and Nellie Atkinson and enjoyed the companionship |
|
|
of three sisters, Donna, Ruth, and Beverly; he graduated from Milby |
|
|
High School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in physics from |
|
|
Rice University, followed by master's and doctoral degrees in |
|
|
education from the University of Houston; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Atkinson began his notable career in education |
|
|
as an associate dean of instruction and professor of physical |
|
|
science at California State College at Long Beach; returning to his |
|
|
hometown, he joined the faculty of the University of Houston, where |
|
|
he served as associate dean of the College of Education, assistant |
|
|
dean of faculties, and dean of faculties; Dr. Atkinson chaired the |
|
|
college's Department of Administration and Supervision and |
|
|
directed the Center for International Education; a mentor to |
|
|
faculty and students alike, he traveled globally to establish |
|
|
university programs in France, Brazil, and Mexico, and served on |
|
|
various panels that research and accredit university programs |
|
|
throughout Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After the death of his first wife, Claudene Douglas |
|
|
Atkinson, Gene Atkinson was fortunate to find love a second time; he |
|
|
married Vivian Shaw, and with her enjoyed a fulfilling relationship |
|
|
that was further enriched with the love and affection of their |
|
|
children and grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Atkinson was a veteran of World War II and the |
|
|
Korean War who retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve with the rank of |
|
|
commander; in retirement, he was elected to several terms as a |
|
|
trustee with the Ingram Independent School District, took an active |
|
|
role at the First United Methodist Church of Kerrville, and devoted |
|
|
some of his leisure time to his interest in amateur radio; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Gene Atkinson leaves behind a legacy of immense |
|
|
contributions to his community and beyond, and those who were |
|
|
fortunate enough to share in the richness of his life will forever |
|
|
treasure their memories of this esteemed Texan; now, therefore, be |
|
|
it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Gene Atkinson and |
|
|
extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
|
|
Vivian Shaw Atkinson; to his son, Mark Douglas Atkinson, and his |
|
|
wife, Vicki; to his grandsons, Richard Evans Bowen, Jacob Austin |
|
|
Bowen, Joshua Earl Bowen, and Samuel Douglas Atkinson; to his |
|
|
sisters, Ruth Atkinson Vetter and Beverly Atkinson Booher and her |
|
|
husband, Cletis Booher; to his stepchildren, Glenna Shaw Garcia and |
|
|
her husband, Edmundo, Suzanne Claire Hamilton and her husband, |
|
|
Allen, and Stuart Dunlop Shaw and his wife, Kimi; and to his other |
|
|
relatives and friends; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Gene |
|
|
Atkinson. |
| |
|
|
Hilderbran |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Alvarado |
Gonzales |
Miller of Comal |
|
|
|
| Anchia |
Gonzalez Toureilles |
Miller of Erath |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Aycock |
Gutierrez |
Morrison |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Branch |
Harper-Brown |
Ortiz, Jr. |
|
|
|
| Brown of Kaufman |
Hartnett |
Otto |
|
|
|
| Brown of Brazos |
Heflin |
Parker |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Callegari |
Hilderbran |
Peña |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cohen |
Howard of Fort Bend |
Quintanilla |
|
|
|
| Coleman |
Howard of Travis |
Raymond |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Craddick |
Jackson |
Rodriguez |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Crownover |
Keffer |
Sheffield |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Davis of Harris |
King of Parker |
Smith of Tarrant |
|
|
|
| Davis of Dallas |
King of Taylor |
Smith of Harris |
|
|
|
| Deshotel |
King of Zavala |
Smithee |
|
|
|
| Driver |
Kleinschmidt |
Solomons |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Eiland |
Leibowitz |
Thompson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Elkins |
Lucio III |
Turner of Tarrant |
|
|
|
| England |
Madden |
Turner of Harris |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farias |
Mallory Caraway |
Veasey |
|
|
|
| Farrar |
Marquez |
Villarreal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Flores |
Martinez Fischer |
Walle |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gallego |
McReynolds |
Zerwas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 40 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
|
|
vote of the House on February 26, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |