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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Admired Fort Worth coach and athletic administrator |
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Gerald Beal passed away on April 15, 2011, at the age of 77, leaving |
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his loved ones to reflect on a life that was rich in meaningful |
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accomplishments; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Marshall, Mr. Beal graduated in 1954 |
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from Bishop College where he played football and basketball; he |
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subsequently was hired by Kirkpatrick High School in the Fort Worth |
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Independent School District as a teacher and coach, and in both 1962 |
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and 1963, he led the school's football team to state championships |
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in the Prairie View Interscholastic League, what was then the |
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state's governing body for African American high schools; to this |
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day, Kirkpatrick's PVIL victory remains the last state-level |
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athletic win by a school in FWISD; and |
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WHEREAS, Coach Beal went on to serve on the faculty at I. M. |
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Terrell High School, finishing his coaching career in 1971 with an |
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overall record of 109 wins, 36 losses, and 2 ties, as well as the 2 |
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state crowns; the following year, he became the district's first |
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African American assistant athletic director, and he continued to |
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distinguish himself in that role before retiring in 1996; his |
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outstanding achievements in high school sports were recognized with |
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his induction into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas |
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High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Honor; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, Mr. Beal was an active member |
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of the East St. Paul Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and a |
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member of the choir; he was also active in his community as a member |
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of the Optimist Club, the Ambassadors Club, and other |
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organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Beal was supported in his endeavors by his wife, |
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the former Harlean Berry, a fellow Bishop College graduate and |
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public school educator; the couple married in 1955 and shared more |
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than half a century until Mrs. Beal's death in 2008; together they |
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were blessed with two children, Ronald and Cheryl, as well as two |
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grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Gerald Beal lived a full and generous life centered |
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around his family, his faith, and his profession, and he will long |
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be remembered with deep affection by all those who were privileged |
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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 Gerald Beal and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his son, |
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Ronald Beal; to his daughter, Cheryl Beal Anderson; to his |
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grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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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 Gerald |
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Beal. |
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Veasey |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1484 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 5, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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