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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Citizens of Silsbee lost a respected civic and |
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business leader with the passing of Harold Newton Hopkins on |
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February 17, 2009, at the age of 92; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Bessmay on March 26, 1916, to Ethel Newton |
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and Harold Cobb Hopkins, "Newt" Hopkins attained the rank of Eagle |
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Scout at the age of 14 and graduated from Kirbyville High School in |
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1933; he studied at Lamar Junior College and the United States |
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Military Academy at West Point before enrolling at The University |
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of Texas and earning a bachelor's degree in business |
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administration; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins worked for several years at Humble Oil |
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and Refining Company before answering his nation's call to duty |
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with service in the U.S. Army during World War II; he served as |
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personnel officer, adjutant, and camp commander at Camp Mexia in |
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East Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his military service, Mr. Hopkins |
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returned to Silsbee and found employment in the family ice |
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business; he eventually took over operations of the Silsbee Ice |
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Company, and he was a member of the board of the National Ice |
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Association and served as president of the Southwestern Ice |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed community leader served his fellow |
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citizens in numerous capacities through the years; he was president |
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of the Silsbee Chamber of Commerce and the Silsbee Kiwanis Club, and |
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he was a founder and president of the Silsbee Country Club; in |
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addition, he was a member of the local school board and the board of |
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directors of Hardin County Memorial Hospital, and he was named |
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Citizen of the Year by the Silsbee Chamber of Commerce in 2003; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Mr. |
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Hopkins married the former Joyce Kirgan and the couple enjoyed 63 |
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rewarding years together; they raised a loving family that grew to |
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include 4 children, Joy, Jane, Newton, and Lynn, as well as 10 |
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grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins were |
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longtime members of the First Baptist Church of Silsbee; and |
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WHEREAS, Newt Hopkins was a passionate supporter of The |
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University of Texas and he took great delight in playing golf, |
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discussing politics, and spending time with his family; in all of |
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his endeavors, he exhibited a vibrant sense of humor and an |
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endearing zest for life, and he will be remembered fondly by all |
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those fortunate enough to share in his company; now, therefore, be |
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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 memory of Harold Newton |
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Hopkins and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Joyce Kirgan Hopkins; to his children, Joy Crenshaw and |
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her husband, Will, Jane Lakey and her husband, Robert, Newton |
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Hopkins, Jr., and Lynn McKim and her husband, James; to his |
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grandchildren, Heather Petkovsek, Will, Casey, and Colby Crenshaw, |
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Eugenia Brotherton, Newton Hopkins III, Kirgan Hopkins, and |
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Caroline, Jim, and Elizabeth McKim; to his sisters, Winnie Caro and |
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her husband, Fred, and Frances Allen and her husband, Andrew; to his |
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12 great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; |
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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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Newt |
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Hopkins. |
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Hamilton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1380 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on April 27, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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