| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of |
|
|
M. E. Johnson of Round Rock, who died on January 3, 2009, at the age |
|
|
of 86; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, "Gene" Johnson was born in Johnson County, Arkansas, |
|
|
on January 3, 1923, to Joe and Clara Johnson; answering his nation's |
|
|
call to duty during World War II, he served in the Pacific theater |
|
|
as an aviation chief machinist's mate in the U.S. Navy, on board the |
|
|
aircraft carriers USS Wasp and USS Intrepid; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson opened the M. E. "Gene" Johnson service |
|
|
station on Airport Boulevard in Austin in 1946; though sold in later |
|
|
years, this longtime Austin business continues in operation today |
|
|
under the same name and at the same location; he subsequently also |
|
|
opened Airport Auto Supply, and for 20 years he had a U-Haul outlet, |
|
|
during which time he ranked as the top U-Haul dealer in Austin and |
|
|
San Antonio; Mr. Johnson was active in the garage association and |
|
|
the wholesale parts association, and he was a member of the Texas |
|
|
Independent Automotive Association; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In the late 1970s, this enterprising Texan became a |
|
|
licensed Realtor; his daughters later followed him into that |
|
|
profession and joined the newest family business, M. E. "Gene" |
|
|
Johnson Realtors; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was an endowed member of the Scottish |
|
|
Rite, a member of the York Rite, and a member of the Ben Hur Shrine; |
|
|
in addition, he was an endowed member and life member of Hill City |
|
|
Lodge No. 456, with which he was affiliated for 49 years and of |
|
|
which he was past master, and he was an endowed member of Round Rock |
|
|
Lodge No. 227; both lodges conferred on him the Golden Trowel Award; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Justly proud of his military service, Gene Johnson |
|
|
played an active role in his community as a lifetime member of the |
|
|
American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars; his businesses |
|
|
also sponsored Little League teams in Austin for more than half a |
|
|
century; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson and his wife, Barbara June, were the |
|
|
loving parents of two daughters, Ady and Pam, and they shared a |
|
|
rewarding and devoted union for more than 57 years, until her |
|
|
passing; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Held in great esteem by countless patrons for the |
|
|
friendly, honest, and reliable manner in which he conducted his |
|
|
businesses, Gene Johnson continually made good on his slogans |
|
|
"Service with a smile" and "A name you can trust," and he will be |
|
|
forever remembered with deep affection by all who shared in the |
|
|
richness of his life; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of M. E. "Gene" Johnson |
|
|
and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
|
|
daughters, Adrienne Purgason and her husband, Raymon, and Pamela |
|
|
Cirkiel and her husband, Martin; to his brother, Gaylon Johnson, |
|
|
and his wife, Jo; to his sister, Edna Hickey; to his grandsons, Lee |
|
|
Kinser and his wife, Kathy, Mike Kinser and his wife, Candace, and |
|
|
Shawn Cirkiel and his wife, Bria; to his granddaughter, Sarah |
|
|
Cirkiel; to his great-grandchildren, Loren, Amber, Morgan, |
|
|
Madison, Micah, and Makenna Kinser and Noah and Dylan Cirkiel; and |
|
|
to his other relatives and 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 honor of Gene |
|
|
Johnson. |