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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Melvin Elton Cowart was named the 2008 Citizen of |
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the Year by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of John and Jessi Jane Cowart, Mel Cowart was |
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born in Oakhurst on February 13, 1927; after graduating from |
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Oakhurst High School in 1944, he went to work at Crown Central |
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Petroleum Corporation, and he enrolled at Sam Houston State |
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University in Huntsville, earning a bachelor's degree in 1948; Mr. |
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Cowart later worked for a finance company in Pasadena before he |
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graduated from South Texas College of Law in 1952; and |
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WHEREAS, Employed by a mortgage services company, Mr. Cowart |
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met his future wife, Mary, in 1955, when she worked as his |
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secretary; the couple were joined in matrimony on November 15, |
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1957, and they welcomed a son, Steven L. Cowart, in 1963; Mr. Cowart |
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operated a private law practice, which he opened in downtown |
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Houston and moved to Pasadena in 1974, and Mrs. Cowart took time off |
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to raise their son, but then continued working alongside her |
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husband as his secretary for nearly five decades; the couple |
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nurtured a fulfilling relationship until Mrs. Cowart's passing in |
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2006; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the local organizations that have benefited |
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from the generosity of Mr. Cowart and his late wife are the Pasadena |
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Independent School District Education Foundation, the Salvation |
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Army, and the YMCA; in addition, Mr. Cowart serves on the boards of |
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the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena and the Pasadena ISD Education |
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Foundation; this esteemed Texan is also the director of Family |
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Promise of East Harris County, a member of the Advisory Council |
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Board of the Salvation Army of East Harris County, and a trustee of |
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the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Foundation; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to his community and his profession, Mel |
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Cowart is an inspiration to his fellow residents, and his |
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outstanding efforts were duly recognized with the Citizen of the |
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Year designation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Melvin Elton Cowart for his civic |
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contributions and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Cowart as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |