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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The long and productive life of an esteemed Texan |
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drew to a close with the passing of Donald Devaughn Whitefield of |
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Houston on July 25, 2008, at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on December 11, 1921, in Bellaire, Ohio, Mr. |
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Whitefield was educated in Ohio and Michigan and was active in |
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school debate and band organizations during his youth; in the |
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dramatic years of World War II, he answered his nation's call to |
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duty and completed training as a navigator for B-24 aircraft at |
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Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, where he met his future bride; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, This brave airman was sent to England and undertook |
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the perilous duty of flying bombing runs over Europe with the 492nd, |
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45th, and 445th Bomb Groups; he ultimately survived 30 missions, |
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including one of the most disastrous aerial raids of the war, in |
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which 31 of 35 Allied planes were lost; in recognition of his |
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exemplary service, he received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, |
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the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Croix de Guerre; |
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his skill as an aviator was also recognized during the Korean War, |
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when he was recalled to active duty as a navigation instructor; and |
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WHEREAS, When his service in World War II ended, Mr. |
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Whitefield worked with his father in Ohio before he and his wife, |
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Billie, moved back to Houston; a self-taught chemist, he began |
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experimenting with polyurethane in his home laboratory and |
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developed a method of casting the substance for use in oil field |
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equipment; this development led to the founding of Whitefield |
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Plastics, which is now run by his son, Bill; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Whitefield was deeply interested in the civic |
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affairs of the Lone Star State and was active in promoting the |
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Republican Party; in 1974, he won his party's nomination for the |
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District 8 seat in the United States House of Representatives and |
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ran unsuccessfully against the Democratic incumbent; he also |
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devoted time to a number of other organizations, including the |
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Houston Highlander Bagpipe Band, which he served as president and |
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drum major, the Heather and Thistle Society, Veterans of Foreign |
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Wars Post No. 8790 in Spring Branch, and the Second Air Division |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, A member of the generation that faced the challenges |
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of World War II and helped to build a prosperous nation in the |
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decades that followed, Donald Whitefield had an enduring impact on |
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the world around him, and his many achievements will continue to be |
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a source of inspiration for all who had the pleasure of knowing him; |
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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 Donald D. Whitefield |
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and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife of 65 years, Billie Whitefield; to his children, Patricia |
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Schwertner and her husband, Ron, and William H. Whitefield and his |
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wife, Janeal; to his grandchildren, Ryan Schwertner and his wife, |
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Rachael, Erin Schwertner, Adam Schwertner, Nickolas Currie and his |
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wife, Laura, Patrice Currie, Laura Currie, Diana Currie, and Dr. |
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Jenks Currie and his wife, Erica; to his great-grandchildren, |
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Allison and Samuel Schwertner and Ann Katherine and Garner Currie; |
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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 Donald |
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Whitefield. |