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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends |
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of Ben Randle, Jr., of San Antonio, who passed away on December 4, |
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2008, at the age of 83; and |
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WHEREAS, Ben Randle, Jr., was born to Ben and Carrie Randle of |
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Wichita Falls on April 25, 1925; he graduated from Peabody High |
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School in Hillsboro and joined Wade Chapel at a young age, beginning |
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what would become a lifelong association with the African Methodist |
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Episcopal Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Randle answered his nation's call to duty by |
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joining the U.S. Navy in September 1943, and he was decorated |
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several times for his valor in the Pacific theater; he enrolled in |
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Langston University after the war and met the former Rita Belle |
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Cotton, with whom he would enjoy more than 57 years of loving |
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marriage; Mr. Randle earned a bachelor of science degree in |
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industrial arts and lettered in band at Langston, and he furthered |
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his education with postgraduate work at Oklahoma State University |
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and the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, After leaving college, Mr. Randle taught industrial |
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arts and band in Oklahoma; a few years later, he returned to serve |
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the armed forces as a jet engine instructor for the U.S. Air Force, |
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earning his master instructor rating and going on to obtain his |
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instructor of instructors license at Chanute Air Force Base in |
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Illinois; Mr. Randle began teaching for the education department of |
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the air force in 1967 and continued in that capacity until his |
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retirement in 1986, having served for more than three decades and |
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earned multiple Civilian of the Year awards; and |
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WHEREAS, An expert mentor with a natural gift for imparting |
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life's lessons, Mr. Randle counseled troubled children and adults |
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throughout his life; following his retirement, he lent his talents |
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to the San Antonio Alliance of Business, helping facilitate |
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employment for at-risk individuals; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Randle was also an avid airman, belonging to the |
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Air Force Aerial Club and the Bronze Eagles Flying Club of Texas, |
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and he worked extensively with the Bronze Eagles and the |
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Davis-Scott YMCA to interest minority youth in the field of flying; |
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he loved gardening and frequently gave his vegetables to friends |
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and neighbors, and he was a master of the tenor saxophone who at one |
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time led his own jazz ensemble; and |
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WHEREAS, This notable Texan was a longstanding member of the |
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Bronze Eagles, the Black Pilots Association, and the Sunset Hunting |
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and Fishing Club, and he spent five decades as a scoutmaster and |
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scout council member with the Boy Scouts of America; he was a member |
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of Bethel A.M.E. Church in San Antonio, where he worked diligently |
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for the scout ministry, and was a former leader of the San Antonio |
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chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and |
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WHEREAS, Beloved by his family and friends, Ben Randle was |
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respected by all who knew him, and although he is deeply missed, his |
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spirit lives on through the many positive contributions he made in |
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service to others; 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 Ben Randle, Jr., and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Rita Belle Cotton Randle; to his cousins; to his nieces; and to his |
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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 Ben Randle, |
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Jr. |