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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Retired U.S. Air Force Major General Gerald Prather |
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has led a full and generous life devoted to the service of others, |
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and he has been an esteemed member of the Del Rio community for more |
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than 20 years; and |
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WHEREAS, During his exceptional 32-year career in the U.S. |
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Air Force, this outstanding American rose from airman to major |
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general; he flew F-84 and F-100 fighters, served as a B-52 pilot for |
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the Strategic Air Command, and piloted C-130 cargo planes on 500 |
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support missions during the Vietnam War; and |
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WHEREAS, General Prather also completed degrees in |
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electrical engineering and communications technology, and he |
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became a high-ranking communications officer for SAC, the U.S. |
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Readiness Command, and the Pentagon; he retired in 1986 at the rank |
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of major general, having earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the |
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Bronze Star with "V" device, and the Order of the Sword, a |
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prestigious tribute from the enlisted ranks; and |
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WHEREAS, A resident of Del Rio since 1986, General Prather is |
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as dedicated to serving his community as he has been to serving his |
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nation; he held the office of Precinct 3 justice of the peace for 10 |
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years and helped to create the Justice Juvenile Court; moreover, he |
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has been a member and president of the board of the United Way, as |
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well as the Eagle Scout advancement chair of the Amistad District of |
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the Boy Scouts of America; and |
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WHEREAS, General Prather has also been a leader in the Del Rio |
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Chamber of Commerce, serving as president and as a member of the |
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board, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Special Projects |
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Committee; affiliated with the Lions Club for 50 years, he has been |
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president of the Host Lions Club in Del Rio, and he is vice |
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president and a life director of the Military Affairs Association; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A man of strong religious faith, General Prather is |
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an ordained Eucharistic minister with St. James Episcopal Church, |
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where he has also served as senior warden of the vestry and as a |
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trustee; he acts as chaplain for the Juvenile Detention Center, the |
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Val Verde Regional Medical Center, and the Host Lions Club; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout a lifetime of military and civic service, |
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Gerald Prather has provided exemplary, inspiring leadership, and |
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his contributions and accomplishments are indeed worthy of special |
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recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Major General Gerald Prather for his |
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service to this country and to the community of Del Rio and extend |
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to him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for General Prather as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |