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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Irving lost an admired civic leader |
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with the death of former mayor Morris Holland Parrish on April 30, |
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2009, at the age of 82; and |
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WHEREAS, Born a twin on January 28, 1927, near Tenaha, Morris |
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Parrish was the son of Fred and Lena Parrish; he graduated from |
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Tenaha High School in 1943 and went on to serve his country during |
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World War II and the Korean War as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. |
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Navy; he subsequently earned a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. |
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Austin State University and a master's degree in hospital |
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administration from Northwestern University; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Parrish enjoyed a long career as a hospital |
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administrator, serving at Memorial Hospital in Houston, Memorial |
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Hospital in Nacogdoches, and Irving Community Hospital before |
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retiring in 1987; along the way, he was appointed as a member of the |
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Board of Nurse Examiners by Governor William Clements; and |
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WHEREAS, Later selected as executive director of the Irving |
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Arts Center by the Irving City Council, Mr. Parrish developed an |
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enthusiasm for public art, which became a defining characteristic |
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of his service as a council member and as mayor for four years; a |
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strong advocate for mass transit, as well, he worked for the |
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expansion of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit service and fought for |
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Irving's continued inclusion in DART's territory; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Parrish further distinguished himself as a |
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member of the Dallas Mobility Coalition, the Tollway Committee for |
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the Dallas Region, the DART Arts Committee, the executive committee |
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of the North Texas Council of Governments, the executive committee |
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of the North Texas Commission, and the Metroplex Mayors |
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Association, which he chaired; in addition, he was a deacon at |
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Plymouth Park Baptist Church, and he was particularly proud of the |
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role he played in establishing the Irving Healthcare Foundation, an |
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organization that raises funds for nonprofit health care; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to improving the world around him, Morris |
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Parrish inspired others with his energy and generosity, and he will |
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long be remembered by all who were privileged to share in the |
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richness of his 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 pay tribute to the life of Morris Holland |
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Parrish and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Marjorie Parrish; to his children, Richard Parrish and |
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Judith Bolch; to his grandchildren, Sam, Danny, and Alex Parrish |
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and Beau and Ali Bolch; to his twin brother, Mitchell Parrish, and |
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his wife, LeFern; to his sister-in-law, Jean Parrish; and to his |
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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 Morris |
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Parrish. |