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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Robert M. Gates is retiring as the United States |
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secretary of defense on June 30, 2011, drawing to a close an |
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extraordinary 45-year career in which he has served eight U.S. |
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presidents; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Kansas, Robert Gates earned a bachelor's |
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degree from the College of William and Mary, a master's degree in |
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history from Indiana University, and a doctorate in Russian and |
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Soviet history from Georgetown University; and |
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WHEREAS, Secretary Gates joined the Central Intelligence |
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Agency in 1966, and during the course of his outstanding 27-year |
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tenure with the organization, he spent nearly a decade in the White |
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House as a member of the National Security Council, serving four |
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presidents; and |
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WHEREAS, Named deputy director of the CIA in 1986, Secretary |
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Gates served in that role until early 1989, when he was appointed |
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assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser in |
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the administration of President George H. W. Bush; when he returned |
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to the CIA in 1991 as its director, he became the only career |
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officer in its history to rise from entry-level employee to agency |
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head; and |
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WHEREAS, Beginning a new chapter in his career, Secretary |
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Gates was appointed interim dean of the George Bush School of |
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Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in 1999, and |
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in 2002, he accepted the position of university president; he |
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further contributed his expertise as a board member of the American |
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Council on Education and the National Association of State |
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Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the other organizations with which Secretary |
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Gates has been deeply involved are the National Eagle Scout |
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Association and the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of |
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America, both of which he served as president; in addition, he has |
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been chair of the Independent Trustees of the Fidelity Funds and a |
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board member of NACCO Industries, Brinker International, and Parker |
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Drilling Company; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2006, Dr. Gates was selected to be the 22nd U.S. |
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secretary of defense by President George W. Bush, and he was sworn |
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in on December 18 of that year; after the 2008 election of President |
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Barack Obama, Secretary Gates became the only secretary of defense |
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in history to be asked to remain in that office by an incoming |
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president; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognized on many occasions, Dr. Gates is the |
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recipient of the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens |
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Medal, and two National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medals; |
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moreover, he has earned the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the |
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CIA's highest award, three times; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his years of service to the nation, |
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Secretary Gates has distinguished himself with his intelligence, |
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integrity, and patriotism, winning the lasting trust and respect of |
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men and women in uniform, politicians of both parties, and the |
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general public, and he may indeed take pride in his tremendous |
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contributions to the safety and security of his fellow Americans; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Robert M. |
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Gates on his retirement as U.S. secretary of defense and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for continued success in all his endeavors; |
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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 Secretary Gates as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |