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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The death of former Wichita Falls police chief |
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Curtis R. Harrelson on March 29, 2009, at the age of 69, has deeply |
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saddened the community he served with enormous dedication for more |
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than three decades; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Wichita Falls, Mr. Harrelson was born on |
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March 31, 1939, to Wilson and Mabel Harrelson; his family moved to |
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Archer City when he was 10, and after graduation from Archer City |
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High School, he enlisted in the United States Army; on May 1, 1959, |
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he married the former Martha Jean Worley, and while he was serving |
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as a military police officer in Huntsville, Alabama, the couple |
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became the proud parents of two sons; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Harrelson joined the Wichita Falls Police |
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Department in 1962 and worked as a juvenile investigator and auto |
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theft investigator before helping to organize the narcotics |
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section; while rising through the ranks, he graduated from the FBI |
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National Academy and earned his bachelor's degree in criminal |
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justice from Midwestern State University; he became chief of police |
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in March 1977 and his strong leadership was crucial when a tornado |
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struck the city some two years later; and |
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WHEREAS, During his 20-year tenure as chief, Curtis Harrelson |
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worked diligently to place his department at the forefront of crime |
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prevention; he instituted Operation ID and neighborhood watch |
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programs that influenced other departments, and collaborated with |
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numerous law enforcement agencies to establish the North Texas |
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Regional Drug Enforcement Task Force; in addition, he reinstated |
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the department's motorcycle unit and K9 teams; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Harrelson was a mentor to countless young |
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officers and a role model in the wider community; he founded Police |
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Explorer Post 500 to introduce teenagers to career opportunities in |
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law enforcement and helped area residents form a Wichita Falls |
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Crime Stoppers organization; his writing talent enlivened the |
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departmental newsletter he started, and he published a moving |
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article in Texas Police Journal headlined "Who says cops don't |
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cry?"; and |
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WHEREAS, From an early age, this dynamic Texan loved |
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aviation, and after his retirement in 1997, he flew pipeline for 11 |
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years; a certified FAA instructor, he taught many people to become |
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pilots; he was a valued member of Faith Village Church of Christ and |
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a devoted family man who enjoyed spending time with his seven |
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grandchildren; his many interests included hunting, four-wheeling, |
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and working on the computer, and he belonged to the Rockin Wheels |
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chapter of the Good Sam Club for RV travelers; moreover, he |
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participated in such activities as the Hotter 'N Hell Hundred |
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bicycling event; and |
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WHEREAS, Curtis Harrelson was widely admired for his |
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integrity, professionalism, and commitment to public safety, and he |
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had a positive impact on Wichita Falls that continues to resonate; |
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he will long be remembered by the many people whose lives he |
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touched; 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 Curtis R. Harrelson |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Jean Harrelson; to his sons, David Harrelson and his wife, |
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Beth, and Dennis Harrelson and his wife, Sue; to his daughter, Dana |
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Wilson, and her husband, Randal; to his grandchildren, Jared, Josh, |
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Caleb, Casey, Kari, Stephen, and Daniel; to his brother, Don |
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Harrelson, and his wife, Donna; to his sister, Carolyn Askins, and |
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her husband, Sammie; to his mother-in-law, Lucille Worley; to his |
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brother-in-law, William Worley, and his wife, Beverly; and to his |
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many 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 Curtis |
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Harrelson. |
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Farabee |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1390 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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