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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost a beloved member of its |
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musical community on May 6, 2009, with the passing of Randall Locke |
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of Briarcliff; and |
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WHEREAS, Better known as "Poodie," Mr. Locke spent nearly |
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3-1/2 decades working for Willie Nelson, becoming the singer's |
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stage manager and trusted assistant and playing an essential role |
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in overseeing the almost-continuous concert tours by Willie Nelson |
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and Family; Mr. Locke was also an entrepreneur, operating Poodie's |
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Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood, which became a well-known live |
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music venue that boosted the careers of many young performers and |
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has hosted numerous performances by Willie and other music legends; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Waco, Poodie Locke was the son of Gloria |
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Donna Main and James Houston Locke; according to his mother, he was |
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voted Waco's most beautiful baby when he was just a few months old, |
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and he got his nickname from the way his older sister pronounced the |
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word "pretty"; he graduated from University High School in Waco and |
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went on to study at North Texas State University, and by the 1970s, |
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he was working as a member of the road crew for country star B. W. |
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Stevenson; in 1975, Mr. Locke crossed paths with Willie Nelson, |
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whom he had first met years earlier; offered a job as one of |
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Willie's roadies, Mr. Locke agreed, and so began his life's work; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Locke found his niche in his role as stage |
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manager, overseeing the setup of the musicians' instruments and the |
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countless other logistics involved with keeping a band on schedule |
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for hundreds of days each year; focused, organized, and hardworking |
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on the one hand, Mr. Locke also possessed a calm demeanor that |
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contributed greatly to the band's success and comfort on the road; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, When not taking care of business, he could often be |
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found playing golf, particularly on the course at the Briarcliff |
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Golf Club; Mr. Locke had a colorful and exuberant personality that |
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made him countless friends among the famous and the not-so-famous |
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alike, and his warmth and kindness will be greatly missed by all who |
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had the good fortune to know this larger-than-life Texan; now, |
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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 Randall "Poodie" |
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Locke and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his mother, Gloria Locke; to the love of his life, Shaye Groves; |
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to his sister, Cindi Lou Locke; to his niece, Ashley Vincent, and |
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her husband, James; to his nephew, Dillon Locke-Boles, and his life |
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partner, Dial Boles; to his great-niece, Hanna Vincent; to Willie |
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Nelson and the other members of his extended family; and to his many |
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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 Poodie |
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Locke. |