| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt by |
|
|
family and friends at the loss of U.S. Army Second Lieutenant |
|
|
Zachary Ryan Cook of Lufkin, who died on January 12, 2009, at the |
|
|
age of 22; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, On December 12, 2008, this outstanding young Texan |
|
|
graduated from Texas A&M University as a member of the Army Reserve |
|
|
Officers' Training Corps and received his commission as a second |
|
|
lieutenant in the United States Army; he was waiting to report for |
|
|
officer training when he was killed in the crash of a Black Hawk |
|
|
helicopter during a field exercise at College Station; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Zac Cook was born in Lufkin to David and Becky Cook |
|
|
on March 4, 1986; he was a 2004 graduate of Lufkin High School, |
|
|
where he was an all-star catcher on the baseball team and was voted |
|
|
"Best Personality" by his class; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A proud Aggie, Lieutenant Cook was a member of the |
|
|
Corps of Cadets, Company D-1, and the Brazos Union Masonic Lodge No. |
|
|
129 in Bryan; he was also a member of Parson's Mounted Cavalry, |
|
|
serving as the section chief responsible for firing the cannon |
|
|
during Texas A&M football games and other events; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Cook was an enthusiastic and |
|
|
knowledgeable outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish with his |
|
|
brother, David; he pursued his love of the natural world at Texas |
|
|
A&M and earned his degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences; he |
|
|
will also be remembered as a tough competitor and a loyal teammate |
|
|
on the baseball diamond; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A natural leader and a true patriot, Zac Cook |
|
|
succeeded in achieving his dream of becoming an officer in the |
|
|
service of his nation; although his life has ended far too soon, the |
|
|
memory of his honesty, courage, determination, and compassion will |
|
|
live forever in the hearts of all those who knew and loved him; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Second |
|
|
Lieutenant Zachary Ryan Cook and extend sincere condolences to the |
|
|
members of his family: to his parents, David and Becky Cook; to his |
|
|
brother, Second Lieutenant David Cook, Jr.; to his grandparents, |
|
|
Loyd and Nelda Cook; and to his other relatives and many 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 Lieutenant |
|
|
Zachary Cook. |