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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through joyous times and meaningful |
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accomplishments drew to a close with the passing of longtime Fort |
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Worth resident Colonel Philip J. Kuhl on February 8, 2010, at the |
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age of 95; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Charles and Mildred Kuhl, Phil Kuhl was |
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born in Astoria, Illinois, on September 27, 1914, and grew up in the |
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central Illinois community of Galesburg; he worked in his father's |
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prominent retail specialty shop until he headed off to Knox |
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College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics and |
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was a competitive swimmer and a member of Phi Delta Theta, Scabbard & |
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Blade, and ROTC; and |
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WHEREAS, Colonel Kuhl joined the Army Air Corps as the shadow |
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of war loomed; he received his wings from the Air Corps Advanced |
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Flying School, Attack Division, at Kelly and Randolph Air Force |
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Bases in San Antonio and went on to command B-17 and B-24 bombers in |
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the Pacific Theater; during the Battle of Coral Sea, he was forced |
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to ditch his plane in the ocean, and he strove heroically to save |
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the lives of his crew; he was awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of |
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Merit, and the Purple Heart, among other decorations; and |
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WHEREAS, After World War II ended, Colonel Kuhl continued his |
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career as a command pilot and mastered jet flight; he graduated from |
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the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Armed Forces Staff |
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College and rose to become a full colonel, with such |
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responsibilities as directing procurement, production, and |
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logistics for the USAF Air Materiel Command; his leadership skills |
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took him to the Pentagon, as well as Wright-Patterson AFB and |
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numerous strategic air bases around the world; and |
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WHEREAS, While stationed in New England in 1949, Colonel Kuhl |
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met the love of his life, Barbara Dunn; they married the following |
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year in her hometown of Boston and later became the parents of two |
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children, John and Pam; the family moved to Fort Worth after Colonel |
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Kuhl retired from military service, and he was employed in the |
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aerospace industry before engaging in the real estate business with |
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his wife; and |
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WHEREAS, This charming, witty, and multitalented gentleman |
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enjoyed a host of outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, |
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and waterskiing, and was equally interested in music and scholarly |
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pursuits; clever and inquisitive, he liked to figure out how things |
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worked and could fix them when they stopped, and he learned how to |
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build radios and computers and to make wine, beer, and even maple |
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syrup; in addition, he took care of countless cherished pets |
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through the years; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all, Phil Kuhl was devoted to his wife and |
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family; an exemplary member of the Greatest Generation, he inspired |
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all who were privileged to know him by embracing life boldly and |
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holding his loved ones ever close in his heart; now, therefore, be |
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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 Colonel Philip |
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J. Kuhl and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Barbara Kuhl; to his son, Philip John Kuhl, |
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Jr.; to his daughter, Pamela Kuhl-Linscomb, and her husband, Daniel |
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J. Linscomb; 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 Colonel |
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Philip J. Kuhl. |