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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of William |
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E. Nelson, Jr., of Waco, who passed away on March 10, 2011, at the |
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age of 93; and |
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WHEREAS, Bill Nelson was born in Gunter on November 30, 1917, |
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to William E. Nelson, Sr., and Zula Eveline Caldwell; orphaned at an |
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early age after his mother contracted tuberculosis, he lived on the |
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streets and with relatives and foster parents; in spite of these |
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difficult circumstances, he continued his education and was |
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president of his class at Celina High School, where he also played |
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quarterback on the football team; he was recruited to North Texas |
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State Teachers College on a football scholarship; and |
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WHEREAS, With the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Nelson |
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volunteered for the United States Army Air Corps; he was a top |
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turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator and, while stationed in Italy, |
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participated in 50 bombing missions over Axis countries and |
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occupied territories, for which he was later decorated; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning stateside, Mr. Nelson went to work for the |
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Veterans Administration Regional Office in Dallas and then in Waco; |
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he was dedicated to ensuring his fellow veterans received their |
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benefits, and he spent 30 years in public service; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Nelson shared 58 happy years with his wife, |
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Leola, and together they welcomed four children into their family; |
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the couple were known for their kindness and generosity toward |
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others and regularly extended themselves, no matter how great the |
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need; Mr. Nelson delighted in working in his garden and observing |
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the birds and animals in his backyard; moreover, he took enormous |
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pleasure in the company of his grandchildren; he was an active |
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member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, |
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Bill Nelson will be deeply missed, but the integrity, humility, and |
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altruism with which he lived his life will forever inspire all who |
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had the good fortune 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 William E. Nelson, |
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Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his daughters, Constance Pothier and her husband, Tom, and Sally |
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McGowan and her husband, Bobby; to his son, William E. Nelson III; |
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to his grandchildren, Jason, Whitney, Sarah, Sean, Alissa, Jon, |
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Keith, and Michael; and to his other relatives and many friends; |
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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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of William E. |
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Nelson, Jr. |