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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Friends and family are mourning the loss of John V. |
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Spikes of Hunt, who passed away on April 15, 2010, at the age of 73; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Amarillo on February 24, 1937, John Spikes |
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earned bachelor's and master's degrees in geophysics and taught at |
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the University of Minnesota before accepting an offer from IBM; he |
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spent more than 25 years with the company as a systems engineer, |
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product manager, marketing manager, and financial services |
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liaison, and many of his former employees have recalled the |
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positive impact he had on their careers; subsequent to his tenure |
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with IBM, he became a product director for Continental Airlines; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Spikes began to work with children and young |
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adults after retiring to the Texas Hill Country; he was involved |
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with the Ignite SystemsGo Aeroscience program at Fredericksburg |
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High School, which challenges students to design, build, and |
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successfully launch a rocket one mile into the air; he then |
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introduced the program to the Ingram Independent School District, |
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and it is now a part of the curriculum there; and |
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WHEREAS, A volunteer at Greystone Preparatory School in |
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Kerrville, Mr. Spikes mentored students seeking an appointment to |
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one of the five United States service academies, and he further |
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distinguished himself as a member of the Greystone advisory board; |
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in addition, he was elected to the Hunt Independent School District |
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Board of Trustees, determined to expand educational offerings in |
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math and science and improve technology in the classroom; |
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administrators at Hunt ISD will continue his important work with |
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the John Spikes Technology Initiative, which was created through |
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donations made in his honor after his passing; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Spikes enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, Virginia, and his children, Jeff and Susan; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, John Spikes was an outstanding businessman and a |
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devoted community leader, and he touched the lives of not only those |
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who knew him best but also countless young men and women who |
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benefited from his efforts in their schools; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of John V. Spikes and |
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extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Virginia; to his son, Jeff, and his wife, Crystal; to his daughter, |
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Susan; to his grandchildren; 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 John V. |
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Spikes. |