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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Countless lives were touched by the inspiring faith |
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and leadership of William B. Decker of Abilene, who passed away on |
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November 13, 2010, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Laura and John Decker, Bill Decker was |
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born in Wichita Falls on July 20, 1926; he enrolled at Abilene |
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Christian University in 1943 but interrupted his education after |
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his freshman year to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he |
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returned to ACU after the war, served as student body president his |
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senior year, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Greek New |
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Testament studies in 1949; he earned a master's degree from Butler |
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University in Indiana two years later; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1953, Mr. Decker returned to Abilene Christian |
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University, where he would spend the next 37 years; initially |
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employed as an instructor and barracks supervisor, he went on to |
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serve as an assistant professor in the Bible department for 10 |
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years; he later worked as director of public relations and as an |
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estate planner in the development office; he subsequently returned |
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to the Bible department, where he taught Greek and New Testament |
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studies until his retirement in 1990; in honor of his distinguished |
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service, he was named an Outstanding Faculty Member in 1986; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his life, Mr. Decker preached |
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throughout Texas and in Indiana, California, and New Mexico, and he |
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was a longtime elder at Abilene's University Church of Christ; |
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moreover, he was a strong supporter of missionary work in Central |
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and South America; and |
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WHEREAS, For 61 years, he enjoyed the love and support of his |
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wife, the former Mary Jo "Jody" Carter; together they raised four |
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treasured children and shared in the joy of welcoming 13 |
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grandchildren into their family; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan will be deeply missed by those |
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who were privileged to know him, but his selfless contributions |
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will continue to resonate at Abilene Christian University and |
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beyond for many years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of William B. Decker and extend |
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sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Jody |
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Decker; to his children, Roma Freeman and her husband, Ray, Major |
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(Ret.) Bill Decker and his wife, Kathy, Lisa Webb and her husband, |
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Tom, and Cindy Isenhower and her husband, Donald; to his |
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grandchildren, Randy Freeman, Robby Freeman, Julie Freeman Haney |
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and her husband, Robert, First Lieutenant Andrew Freeman, First |
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Lieutenant B. Alan Decker, Jr., Ashley Decker Hughes and her |
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husband, Scott, Sarah Webb Rude and her husband, Jason, Thomas |
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Webb, Laura Webb, Stacey Webb, Larry Isenhower and his wife, Julee, |
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Anna Isenhower, and Roberta Isenhower; to his sister, Vera |
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Boatwright; to his brother-in-law, James Carter and his wife, |
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Wynetta; and to his 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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William B. Decker. |
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King of Taylor |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 76 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 10, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 76 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the Senate on March 14, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |