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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas cattle industry lost an important leader |
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with the passing of Dr. Richard Peterson McDonald of Amarillo on |
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October 29, 2010, at the age of 66; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on February 21, 1944, in Clifton to Roy and |
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Werner McDonald, Richard McDonald grew up in San Benito and served |
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as president of his high school's FFA program for two years and as |
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chair of the state 4-H Council; he graduated from Texas A&M |
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University in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in animal science and |
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then earned a master's degree and a doctorate in nutrition, animal |
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breeding, and statistics from Louisiana State University; and |
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WHEREAS, After completing his education, Dr. McDonald served |
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as an area livestock specialist in Dallas for the Texas |
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Agricultural Extension Service, and in 1974, he joined the staff of |
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the Texas Cattle Feeders Association in Amarillo; he actively |
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represented the interests of the TCFA before the Texas Legislature |
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and regulatory agencies, developing a reputation as a credible, |
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reliable, and trustworthy advocate; in 1988, he became president |
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and CEO of the association and held those posts for nearly two |
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decades; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for his ability to build consensus among TCFA |
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members and to solve problems by collaborating with others, |
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Dr. McDonald helped transform the cattle industry into a vital |
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component of United States agriculture and the national economy; |
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today, TCFA members in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico sell some |
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seven million head of cattle annually and produce approximately 30 |
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percent of the nation's fed beef; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. McDonald was a founding member of the Texas |
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Agriculture Council and served as its chair for several years; he |
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received many honors for his work, including the first Industry |
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Leadership Award from the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame, the Blue and |
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Gold Award from Texas FFA, and awards from the Texas County |
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Agricultural Agents Association, Texas A&M University, and Texas |
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Tech University; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement in 2006, Dr. McDonald |
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served as a consultant with the McCormick Company; he was appointed |
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by Governor Rick Perry to the Canadian River Compact Commission in |
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2009, and he held a seat on the West Texas A&M University Foundation |
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Board; in addition, he gave back to his community through his work |
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with the Boy Scouts, and he was an active member of First |
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Presbyterian Church in Amarillo; and |
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WHEREAS, The Richard McDonald Leadership Institute has been |
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established to honor Dr. McDonald's legacy in the cattle industry; |
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administered through the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, |
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the program will offer leadership development and training for |
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young people involved with cattle organizations across the United |
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States; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Dr. McDonald was supported |
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by his loving wife, Sharon; the couple enjoyed more than 30 years |
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together and raised four children, Lyle, Lanny, Kelly, and Lori; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, While the death of Dr. McDonald has brought |
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immeasurable sorrow to his family and friends, he leaves behind a |
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record of exceptional achievement that will long be remembered by |
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all who were privileged 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 life of Dr. Richard Peterson |
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McDonald and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: |
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to his wife, Sharon; to his sons, Lanny McDonald and his wife, |
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Deanna, and Lyle McDonald and his wife, Myra; to his daughter, Lori |
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Price, and her husband, Danny; to his daughter-in-law, Kerri |
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McDonald; to his brothers, Roy McDonald and his wife, Rhea, and |
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Robert McDonald and his wife, Darleen; to his sister-in-law, Sandra |
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Woodward, and her husband, Tom; to his 12 grandchildren; and to his |
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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 |
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Dr. McDonald. |