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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A rewarding life filled with meaningful |
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achievements drew to a close with the passing of Claudia Ball on |
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March 9, 2011, at the age of 80; and |
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WHEREAS, The former Claudia Abbey was born to Elizabeth |
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Hudspeth Abbey and William Campbell Abbey on November 5, 1930, in El |
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Paso; her family spent a number of years in Hartford, Connecticut, |
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during her childhood before settling in San Antonio, and she |
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graduated from St. Mary's Hall in 1948, where she was superior |
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senior class president; she went on to further her education at |
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Vassar College and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, While serving as a duchess for the Order of the Alamo |
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during the San Antonio Fiesta of 1953, she became acquainted with |
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her future husband, T. Armour Ball; the couple enjoyed a rewarding |
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relationship until Mr. Ball passed away in 1990, and they raised two |
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children, William Armour Ball, who preceded his parents in death, |
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and Mary Alice Ball Strunk; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of many interests and talents, Mrs. Ball was |
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an avid golfer who was champion of the San Antonio Country Club |
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Women's Golf Club for several years and was president, treasurer, |
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and director of the Texas State Golf Association; she was also |
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active with the Institute of Texan Cultures, and held leadership |
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roles with the Texas Folklife Festival; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Ball was equally devoted to ranching, which she |
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first learned to love while spending time on her grandparents' |
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Hudspeth River Ranch as a child; her later stewardship of the |
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property allowed her to assist in the development of conservation |
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practices, and a teaching program established at the ranch hosted |
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students from three state universities; in recognition of her |
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efforts, she was named Conservation Rancher of the Year in 1983; her |
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love of the outdoors was further reflected in her hobby of hunting, |
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and she pursued birds and other quarry in locations around the |
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globe; and |
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WHEREAS, Claudia Ball found time for many other activities in |
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the course of her life, but she especially loved spending time in |
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the company of her grandchildren and cheering on the San Antonio |
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Spurs; the enthusiasm she brought to each of her endeavors was an |
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inspiration to all who had the good fortune to know her, and she |
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will be fondly remembered and deeply missed; 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 Claudia Ball and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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daughter, Mary Alice Ball Strunk, and her husband, William Robert |
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"Billy Bob" Strunk; to her grandchildren, William Armour Strunk, |
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Sarah Campbell Strunk, and Claudia Abbey Strunk; to her |
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daughter-in-law, Kathleen Curry; to her dear friends, JoAnn Andera, |
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Mourette Boehme, Sandy and Brenda Atherton, Mark and Stephanie |
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Alsup, and Fidencia Castillo; and to all who mourn her passing; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Claudia |
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Ball. |