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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Longtime conservation advocate George W. Wilkins of |
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Gladewater is retiring from the board of directors of the |
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Upshur-Gregg Soil and Water Conservation District in 2009, drawing |
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to a close nearly four decades of service; and |
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WHEREAS, George Wilkins is a native of East Texas, born in |
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1911 and raised on a farm in Gregg County; after graduating from |
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Gladewater High School in 1930, he went to work as a surveyor for |
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the county engineering department, helping to build 105 miles of |
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hard-surface road, the first in the county; and |
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WHEREAS, From 1936 to 1939, Mr. Wilkins worked for the Texas |
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Highway Department, and in 1939, he began a long and distinguished |
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career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, starting in Galveston |
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and then transferring to Fort Worth in 1950; during his 30 years |
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with the Corps of Engineers, Mr. Wilkins played a vital role in |
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conserving the water resources of Texas, helping to construct 17 |
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large reservoirs across the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wilkins retired in 1969 and returned to his |
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homestead in 1970, but he has continued to serve as a dedicated |
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steward of the resources of the Lone Star State; he was elected to |
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the board of the Upshur-Gregg SWCD in 1970 and has served with great |
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distinction there for nearly 39 years; and |
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WHEREAS, This tireless and engaged citizen has represented |
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soil and water conservation districts on other boards and |
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committees; he has helped promote the Southern Regional Forestry |
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Contest in neighboring states, and he played an important part in |
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establishing the Region IV State Wildlife Clinic; and |
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WHEREAS, The exemplary service of Mr. Wilkins has garnered a |
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congratulatory letter from President George W. Bush and a |
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Distinguished Service Award from the East Texas Council of |
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Governments among many other awards and recognitions; he also |
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shares much of the credit for the two Goodyear Awards won by the |
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Upshur-Gregg SWCD in 1995 and 1999; and |
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WHEREAS, George Wilkins has dedicated his life to preserving |
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the soil and water of Texas, first during his career as a builder of |
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reservoirs, and then for nearly four decades more as a citizen |
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advocate with the Upshur-Gregg Soil and Water Conservation |
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District; his long and unwavering commitment to conservation has |
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greatly benefited his fellow Texans, and he may indeed take great |
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pride in his outstanding record of service; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate George W. Wilkins on the occasion |
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of his retirement from the board of directors of the Upshur-Gregg |
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Soil and Water Conservation District and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Wilkins as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Hughes |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 683 was adopted by the House on March |
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2, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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