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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Max Stool of San Antonio has distinguished himself |
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through his dedicated and enthusiastic service to his community, |
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state, and nation; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Dave and Esther Stool, Max Stool was born |
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on September 11, 1922, in Del Rio, just two years after his parents |
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had emigrated from the Ukraine through Ellis Island; as a youth, he |
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worked part-time in his father's clothing business, the Star Store, |
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which was located on the city's Main Street; he graduated in 1940 |
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from Del Rio High School and went on to attend The University of |
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Texas at Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Stool was |
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inspired to enlist in the army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, |
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and he subsequently trained in aircraft maintenance at Oklahoma A&M |
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University; he served as a member of the Army Air Corps and |
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participated in six campaigns, including Normandy, northern |
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France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Air Offensive |
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Europe, before being honorably discharged on October 2, 1945; he |
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was awarded the European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with |
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six bronze stars; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Stool completed his bachelor's degree at |
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UT-Austin in 1947 and married the former Libbie Polsky in August of |
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that same year; the couple lived in Austin while Mr. Stool earned |
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his law degree, and then settled in Del Rio, where together they |
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raised three children, Ethan, Elizabeth, and Ben, and where Mr. |
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Stool returned to work at the Star Store; except for a stint as an |
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attorney with the Internal Revenue Service at the U.S. Department |
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of the Treasury, he helped operate the family business, which he |
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eventually took over, until his retirement in 2001; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his hometown, Mr. Stool shared his time |
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and talents with such organizations as the local Girl Scouts |
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council, the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, the Del Rio Council for |
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the Arts, and Val Verde Friends of the Arts, and he was active in the |
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Rotary Club for 50 years; moreover, he held public office as a board |
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member of the Del Rio Independent School District from 1961 to 1965 |
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and later served as chair of the Val Verde County Democratic Party; |
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along the way, he volunteered in numerous United Fund campaigns and |
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served as the area liaison for the chaplain's office at Laughlin Air |
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Force Base; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Stool's public engagement further extends to his |
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membership in the Texas Jewish Historical Society and the Texas |
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Jewish War Veterans; dedicated to his faith and heritage, he has |
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twice traveled to Israel, and he celebrated a second bar mitzvah in |
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November 2007 at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan is known for his natural |
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curiosity, his ability to make and keep friends, and his |
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razor-sharp memory; he takes great pleasure in traveling, |
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corresponding with others, and spending time with his family, which |
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has grown to include six grandchildren; a resident of San Antonio |
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since 2003, he has shared his experience as a soldier during World |
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War II with local high school students; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Max Stool has demonstrated |
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a commitment to his fellow citizens, and it is indeed a pleasure to |
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honor him for his long and accomplished life; 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 Max Stool for his outstanding |
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contributions to his community, state, and nation and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Stool as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |