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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Friends and family are mourning the loss of Oscar |
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Hardy Smith of New Braunfels, who passed away on April 14, 2009, at |
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the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Arkansas on April 4, 1920, Oscar Smith |
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developed a love of sports as a youth and a lifelong devotion to the |
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Arkansas Razorbacks; he received a football scholarship to Ouachita |
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Baptist University, and while attending Ouachita, he married the |
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former Virginia Hudson; the couple would go on to raise two |
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children, Deb and Gary Bob, and welcome three grandchildren into |
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their family; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Smith answered his nation's call to duty with |
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enlistment in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he served on the |
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USS Helena, which was torpedoed and sunk, causing him to spend four |
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days in open water before being rescued, and the USS Houston, which |
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was torpedoed but stayed afloat; after the war, Mr. Smith returned |
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to finish his bachelor's degree at Ouachita and earned his master's |
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degree at Texas A&M University--Commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman worked as a coach and |
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teacher at Edcouch-Elsa High School, where he was named Coach of the |
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Year in 1953; he subsequently served as principal at Edcouch-Elsa |
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and remained in that post for 11 years before accepting a similar |
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position in New Braunfels; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in civic matters, Mr. Smith was a longtime |
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member of the Lions Club and served as president of that |
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organization in 1969 and 1970; he was also a devoted congregant of |
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First Baptist Church of New Braunfels and a valued member of the |
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local Masonic Lodge; and |
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WHEREAS, Fortunate enough to find love a second time after |
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his first wife passed away, Mr. Smith married Lillian Kramer in |
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2000; and |
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WHEREAS, Oscar Smith touched countless lives through his |
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professional endeavors and tireless community service, and he will |
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forever be remembered with deep affection by those who held him |
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close in their hearts; 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 Oscar Hardy Smith and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Lillian Kramer Smith; to his children, Deb Adams and her husband, |
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Fred, and Gary Bob Smith and his wife, Joann; to his grandchildren, |
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Chris Adams, Kelli Bernal, and Hudson Smith; to his sister, Velma; |
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and to his 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 Oscar Hardy |
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Smith. |
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Miller of Comal |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1922 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 14, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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