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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 Royce Hopkins of Brookshire, who passed away on February 6, 2009, |
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at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Oklahoma on May 20, 1924, Royce Hopkins |
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joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at age 18 and served his country in |
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World War II; as a B-17 bomber pilot with the 8th Air Force, 306th |
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Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron, he flew 26 combat missions over |
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Germany and earned numerous awards, including four Air Medals, five |
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Battle Stars, a Purple Heart, and two Presidential Commendations; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins was honorably discharged in 1947 as a |
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1st Lieutenant, and subsequently pursued his education at Texas |
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Tech University, where he was president of the International |
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Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi; after graduating with a bachelor's |
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degree in accounting, he joined the Lynn Elliott Company and EIM in |
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Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, His dedication and innovation led him to the |
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position of general manager of EIM, and during his 17-year tenure |
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with the company, he developed a unique flow valve controller that |
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was awarded a patent; in 1968, he became vice president and general |
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manager of Texas Steel and Wire, where he planned and oversaw the |
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construction of a new plant and was part of a five-member executive |
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committee that covered operations in Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, |
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and Miami; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins became a group vice president of |
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Davis-Walker Corporation when it purchased Texas Steel and Wire; he |
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played an integral role in the company's expansion into Tennessee |
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and Mississippi, and was a valued member of the executive committee |
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before his retirement in 1981; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Hopkins helped to |
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establish the Waller County Economic Development Partnership and |
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served on its board; in addition, he was a member and director of |
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the West I-10 Chamber of Commerce, member of the West I-10 Economic |
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Development Committee, and director of the Waller County Toll Road |
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Authority; he also supported the establishment of the Houston |
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Executive Airport, and his efforts helped the facility to gain FAA |
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approval; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins further shared his time with the 306th |
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Bomb Group Reunion Association, which he served as treasurer, and |
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assisted with the formation of the Thurleigh Airfield 306th |
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Bombardment Group Museum; he attended the First United Methodist |
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Church of Brookshire, where he was on the board of trustees, and, as |
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a committed Republican Party volunteer, he served as precinct chair |
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and as a member of the Waller County executive committee; and |
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WHEREAS, Royce Hopkins lived a rich and rewarding life, and |
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he will long be remembered with deep admiration for his myriad |
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contributions to his country and his community; now, therefore, be |
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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 Royce Hopkins and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Mollie Hopkins; to his children, Sharon Harvey and her husband, |
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Peter, Kim Montag and her husband, Jeff, Kit Hopkins, and Mike |
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Hopkins and his wife, Andrea; to his grandchildren, Chris Hopkins |
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and Jennifer Shepherd; to his sisters, Joye McLain and Lois Ann |
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King; 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 Royce |
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Hopkins. |