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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 723
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In Memory |
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of |
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William Marcus Gosdin |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of longtime director of park services for |
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the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department William Marcus Gosdin, |
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who died March 19, 2011, at the age of 92; and |
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WHEREAS, William Marcus Gosdin was born March 28, 1918, in |
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Leesburg, Texas; he persevered despite the loss of his father at |
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the age of nine and began working his way through college after |
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graduating from high school; he married Leah McWhorter in 1940, |
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and the couple raised three children and enjoyed 43 years of |
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marriage before her death in 1984; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gosdin enlisted in the United States Army Air |
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Corps at the outbreak of World War II and served with distinction |
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at various posts, including Fort Lewis and Bryan Army Air Field; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Following the war, he determined to complete his |
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education and re-entered Texas Tech University, where he earned |
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bachelor's and master's degrees; he went on to serve on the |
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faculty of the Horticulture and Park Administration Department |
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and to direct a study on Texas state parks commissioned by the |
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administration of Governor John Connally; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1964, he was selected to become director of |
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park services for the newly created Texas Parks and Wildlife |
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Department; under his leadership, the state more than doubled its |
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park acreage, and he played an important role in such initiatives |
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as the $75 million Park Development Bond Program and the Texas |
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Outdoor Recreation Plan; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gosdin personally supervised the development |
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of the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site under the |
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watchful eye of President Johnson and left a personal imprint on |
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many other parks; he was given the Pugsley Award in 1968, one of |
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the nation's most prestigious honors in the fields of |
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conservation, parks, and recreation; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gosdin was active in the Boy Scouts program |
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for many years, serving as a scoutmaster and leading groups of |
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Explorer Scouts in outdoor activities; he was awarded the Silver |
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Beaver, one of scouting's highest honors; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gosdin married Martha S. "Tana" Spivey in |
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1986, and they lived in New Mexico for the next 20 years and |
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traveled extensively; they returned to Austin in 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of courage, strength, and compassion, Mr. Gosdin |
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gave generously to others, and his wisdom, his love of the |
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outdoors, and his commitment to Texas parks will not be |
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forgotten; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and |
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grandfather, and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured |
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forever by his family and many friends; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of William Marcus Gosdin: his wife, Tana; his children, |
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John Mark, Gary, and Cherie; his stepson, Jay Spivey; and his six |
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grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate, |
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and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of |
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William Marcus Gosdin. |
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Watson |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 6, 2011, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |