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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives lost a |
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long-serving and highly respected member when the Honorable George |
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E. "Buddy" West of Odessa passed away on June 25, 2008, at the age of |
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71; and |
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WHEREAS, Buddy West was first elected as the District 81 |
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state representative in 1992 and spent 16 years in the house; he was |
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a highly effective advocate for his constituents in Ector, Andrews, |
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and Winkler Counties, and his wise leadership had an enduring and |
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positive influence on his fellow house members; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on October 9, 1936, in Ballinger, Mr. West |
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moved to Odessa at the age of seven and graduated from Odessa High |
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School; he enjoyed a 30-year career with Amoco, where he worked as a |
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safety engineer, product technologist, and plant and field |
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technician before his retirement; he also devoted himself to |
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furthering his education through the years, studying at Odessa |
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College, Howard Payne University, and Hardin-Simmons University, |
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and he graduated with a degree in business management from The |
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University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 1975; and |
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WHEREAS, The eight terms that Representative West served in |
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the house allowed him to provide vital input on a vast range of |
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issues; he was particularly active in the areas of energy policy and |
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education, chairing the House Committee on Energy Resources, |
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contributing to committees on public education and higher |
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education, and supporting the growth of his alma mater, UT Permian |
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Basin; this able legislator also served as vice chair of the |
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Appropriations Committee and was a prominent member of many other |
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committees and task forces, including the Law Enforcement and |
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Environmental Regulation Committees and the Child Pornography Task |
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Force; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Representative West enjoyed |
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the love and support of his wife, Shirley, and their three children, |
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and he relished the time he spent with his seven grandchildren and |
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great-grandchild; moreover, he took an active role in the community |
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life of the Odessa area, serving as a Boy Scout leader and a Little |
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League baseball coach and attending Crescent Park Baptist Church |
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and First Baptist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Buddy West observed many changes in the world and at |
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the State Capitol during his lengthy tenure as a member of this |
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chamber, but his dedication to honorably serving his fellow |
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citizens was unwavering, and the example he set for responsible |
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public service will continue to inspire his former colleagues for |
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years to come; 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 the Honorable George |
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E. West and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his wife, Shirley West; to his children, Richie West, Lori |
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Bennington and her husband, Wade, and Ami Satterwhite and her |
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husband, Scott; to his grandchildren, Kelsee and Shelby West, |
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Baylee Bennington, and Scotty, Lexi, Landon, and Laci Satterwhite; |
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to his great-grandchild, Rylee West; to his brother, Joe Carter |
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West, and his wife, Carolyn; to his sister, Yvonne Miller, and her |
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husband, Herb; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be |
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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 Buddy West. |