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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The family and friends of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant |
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Michael C. Murphrey of Snyder suffered an immeasurable loss with |
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his death on September 6, 2009, at the age of 25; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 501st |
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Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry |
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Division, out of Fort Richardson, Alaska, Staff Sergeant Murphrey |
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was mortally wounded while bravely serving his country in Paktika |
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Province, Afghanistan; and |
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WHEREAS, Michael Murphrey was born in Dallas on May 19, 1984, |
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and attended elementary school in Clyde before moving to Snyder, |
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where his skill on the high school track and football teams |
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attracted the attention of university scouts; and |
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WHEREAS, Greatly affected by the September 11 attacks on |
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America, he became determined to enlist; an enjoyable skydiving |
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experience on his 17th birthday made him consider becoming a |
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paratrooper, and he joined the army soon after graduating from |
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Snyder High School in 2003; and |
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WHEREAS, Before his deployment to Afghanistan, Staff |
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Sergeant Murphrey served two tours of duty in Iraq; soldiers who |
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served with him overseas recall many instances of his selfless |
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loyalty to the men in his charge; and |
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WHEREAS, This courageous soldier was known for his athletic |
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abilities, his brilliant smile, and his devotion to the Texas |
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Longhorns and the Dallas Cowboys; in addition, he loved outdoor |
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activities such as hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles, and he |
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had been teaching himself to play the guitar; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the awards conferred on Staff Sergeant |
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Murphrey were the Bronze Star and Purple Heart; a scholarship has |
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been created at Clyde High School in his name, in recognition of his |
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tremendous sacrifice; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Murphrey married Ashley Martin of Georgia |
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on April 22, 2005, and they were the proud parents of two children, |
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Jaden and Cameron; and |
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WHEREAS, Exemplifying the highest ideals of the U.S. armed |
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forces, Michael Murphrey inspired others through his outstanding |
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leadership and fortitude, and although he is deeply missed, those |
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who loved him will forever carry his memory close in their hearts; |
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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 hereby pay tribute to the life of Staff Sergeant |
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Michael C. Murphrey and extend sincere condolences to the members |
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of his family: to his wife, Ashley Martin Murphrey; to his children, |
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Jaden and Cameron Murphrey; to his parents, Elvie and Evelyn |
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Murphrey; to his grandmother, Lillie Littlejohn; to his sisters, |
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Jeanie Rutherford and her husband, Adam, Wendy Stehouwer and her |
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husband, Ryan, Pearl McKay and her husband, B. J., and Krisa |
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Johnson and her husband, Rocky; to his nieces and nephews; and to |
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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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Staff |
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Sergeant Michael C. Murphrey. |