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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Robert Pearson of El Paso, esteemed attorney and |
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community leader, passed away on December 12, 2008, at the age of |
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83; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Jesse and Ophelia Pearson on October 27, |
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1925, in Buda, "Ray" Pearson acquired a strong work ethic and desire |
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to help others as the son of tenant farmers; he enlisted in the U.S. |
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Navy at the age of 17 and completed a three-year tour of duty before |
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enrolling at Sam Houston State Teachers College; he went on to earn |
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a bachelor's of business administration degree from Baylor |
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University in 1951 and a law degree from The University of Texas at |
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Austin in 1955; while a law student, he worked nights at the Austin |
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State School, an experience that reinforced his sense of |
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compassion; and |
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WHEREAS, He and his beloved wife, the former Shirley Joyce |
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Turner, made their home in El Paso, where together they raised two |
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sons, Brent and Robert, and where Mr. Pearson began his long and |
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rewarding career as an attorney in private practice; he was |
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especially concerned with the rights of children and families, and |
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among his numerous accomplishments was the establishment of the |
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11th Floor Family Law Courts in the El Paso County Courthouse; in |
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addition, he belonged to numerous professional organizations, |
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including the El Paso Bar Association, which he served as |
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president, the Texas Bar Foundation, of which he was a charter life |
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fellow, and the El Paso Bar Foundation, of which he was a founding |
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life fellow; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to his fellow citizens, Mr. Pearson also |
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distinguished himself through his civic involvement; he served as |
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chair of the El Paso Housing Authority and the El Paso Water |
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Utilities Public Service Board, and he volunteered with the |
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American Heart Association and the Pilot Home for the Elderly; he |
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was active in politics as well, serving as a delegate to the |
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Democratic National Convention in 1964, as secretary of the State |
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Democratic Executive Committee from 1965 to 1968, and as the West |
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Texas Region point person for Governor John Connally; moreover, he |
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organized and held weekly political discussion and action meetings |
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for some 40 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pearson was named an Outstanding Senior Lawyer |
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by the El Paso Bar Association, and he was recognized for his |
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advocacy in behalf of families and children by the El Paso Family |
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Law Bar Association; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of great generosity, humor, and humility, Ray |
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Pearson made a positive difference in the city of El Paso, and |
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although he will be deeply missed, he leaves behind a legacy that |
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will continue to resonate for many years to come; 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 life of Robert Pearson and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his sons, |
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Brent Pearson and his wife, Lourdes, and Robert T. Pearson and his |
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wife, Susan; to his grandchildren, Evan Zachary, Matthew Brandon, |
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Carly Ray, and Paige Susan Pearson; and to his other relatives and |
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many 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 Robert |
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"Ray" Pearson. |
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Moody |
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Pickett |
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Chavez |
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Quintanilla |
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Marquez |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2048 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 19, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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