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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the death of Tom Gordon of Abilene on June 28, 2010, at |
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the age of 97; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Palestine, Mr. Gordon graduated from |
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Palestine High School and earned his undergraduate degree at The |
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University of Texas at Austin; he went on to attend law school at |
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UT, and served as a legal investigator for the state attorney |
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general's office while completing his studies; he was admitted to |
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the Texas Bar in 1937; and |
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WHEREAS, After launching his legal career, he was joined in |
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marriage with the former Frances Lawlis, with whom he would share 70 |
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years; Mr. Gordon answered his nation's call to duty during World |
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War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1946; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to Texas after his military service, he |
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joined the legal staff at Vinson, Elkins, Weems and Francis in |
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Houston and then, in 1950, began his own private practice in |
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Abilene; he was a member of the State Bar of Texas and a life member |
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of the Texas Bar Foundation, and from 1970 to 1971, he was president |
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of the Abilene Bar Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gordon took an active role in public affairs, |
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and in the 1950s he represented Texas at the White House Conference |
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on Aging conducted by President Eisenhower; Governor John Connally |
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appointed him to the State Land Board of Texas in 1967, and he went |
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on to serve as chair of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission |
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under five governors; an active member of the Democratic Party, he |
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was a member of the Rules and Order of Business Committee at the |
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1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago; and |
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WHEREAS, Well known for his work in the energy industry, he |
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served on the executive, import policy, and natural gas committees |
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of the Independent Petroleum Association of America; for several |
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years, he chaired the Liaison Committee, an umbrella group of state |
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and national independent oil and gas associations; and |
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WHEREAS, This accomplished civic leader likewise devoted |
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much time to community organizations in Abilene, where he was chair |
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of the American Red Cross, Citizens for Better Government, and the |
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city's Civil Service Commission and was president of the Petroleum |
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Club of Abilene and the Abilene Fine Arts Museum board; while |
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heading the Abilene Preservation League in 1984 and 1985, he played |
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a vital role in the creation of the city's Landmarks Commission, the |
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Historic Overlay Ordinance, and the Historic Tax Incentive program; |
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moreover, he was a member of the congregation at St. Paul United |
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Methodist Church, serving on the board of trustees and teaching |
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Sunday school; and |
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WHEREAS, A respected lawyer, a caring family man, and a |
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dedicated public servant, Tom Gordon excelled in each of these |
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roles, and the integrity and generosity of spirit with which he |
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lived his life will continue to inspire all who had the good fortune |
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to know him; 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 memory of Tom Gordon and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Frances Lawlis Gordon; to his daughter, Brooke Gordon Cato, |
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and her husband, George; to his granddaughters, Leigh Gordon DuBose |
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and her husband, Nathan, Ann Dowling Bernard and her husband, |
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Tollie, and Maggie Cato and Jay Habayeb; to his |
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great-granddaughters, Kate Bernard and Frances Bernard; to his |
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great-grandsons, Gordon DuBose, Tolbert Bernard, and John DuBose; |
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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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tom Gordon. |