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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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death of Richard John Avery, Jr., of Dallas, who passed away on May |
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22, 2009, at the age of 83; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Dallas on August 15, 1925, Mr. Avery was a |
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devoted member of the Catholic faith and a longtime parishioner of |
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St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church; as a young man, he answered his |
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nation's call to duty with service as a pilot trainee in the U.S. |
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Air Force, and he studied management engineering at Texas A&M |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Avery was a dedicated and supportive father and |
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grandfather and a loving husband to his wife, Rose Marie, with whom |
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he shared nearly six decades of marriage; through the years, their |
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family grew to include 8 children, Christine, Cathy, Richard, |
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Patricia, Kenneth, Tom, Teresa, and Alan, as well as 21 |
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grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, The founder and president of Avery Air Conditioning, |
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Mr. Avery also served as president of the Air Conditioning and |
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Refrigeration Contractors Association; in addition, he taught |
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classes in air conditioning and refrigeration for the Dallas County |
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Community College District; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Avery was a man of diverse interests, enjoying |
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ranching, gardening, beekeeping, and making wine, and he held three |
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patents for his inventions; he was a longtime member and former |
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president of the Greater North Texas Orchid Society and a founding |
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member of the Richardson Kiwanis Club; he also helped build the |
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first African American Catholic church in Dallas County; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan's many achievements reflect the |
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enthusiasm and determination he brought to all aspects of his life, |
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and his loved ones will continue to be inspired by their memories of |
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him; 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 Richard John Avery, |
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Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Rose Marie Avery; to his children, Christine Harrell, |
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Cathy Tipton, Richard Avery and his wife, PJ, Patricia Tavangaran, |
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Kenneth Avery and his wife, Jan, Tom Avery and his wife, Debbie, |
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Teresa Dean and her husband, Charles, and Alan Avery and his wife, |
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Tricia; to his 20 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; to his |
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brothers, Charlie Avery and his wife, Betty, Robert Avery and his |
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wife, Barbara, and Bill Avery; and to his other relatives and |
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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 Richard |
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Avery. |