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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 77
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In Memory |
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of |
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Gene Durkee |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the |
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citizens of Fort Worth in mourning the loss of Gene Durkee, who |
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died May 24, 2013, at the age of 83; and |
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WHEREAS, Gene Durkee was born April 12, 1930, in Oklahoma |
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City; he was salutatorian of the Class of 1948 at Moore High |
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School, where he was also president of the student council and a |
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standout athlete who earned letters in football, baseball, and |
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basketball; he went on to earn a degree in petroleum engineering |
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from the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of the |
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Engineers Club and Lambda Chi Alpha; and |
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WHEREAS, He married his childhood sweetheart, Billye, and |
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the couple enjoyed more than 60 years of marriage; they raised |
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three sons, Michael, Kenneth, and James, and were blessed with |
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five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Durkee joined the Oklahoma National Guard |
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while attending college and earned a commission as a second |
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lieutenant after completing four years in the Reserve Officers' |
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Training Corps; he was later called to active duty with the |
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United States Air Force during the Korean War and served with the |
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7th Bomb Wing of the Strategic Air Command at Carswell Air Force |
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Base; and |
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WHEREAS, He enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in the |
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petroleum industry, serving in executive positions for a variety |
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of companies, including Moran Brothers, Western Oceanic, Peter |
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Bawden Drilling, Pool International, and Beta Drilling; he |
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created his own firm, Energy Marketing and Drilling, in 1989; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the professional organizations to which he |
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gave his time and talent were the International Association of |
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Drilling Contractors, the Society of Independent Professional |
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Earth Scientists, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers; and |
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WHEREAS, Gene Durkee was a man of courage, strength, and |
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compassion who gave generously to others, and his wisdom, warmth, |
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and valued counsel will not be forgotten by those who knew him; |
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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, 83rd |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
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condolences to the bereaved family of Gene Durkee; and, be it |
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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 |
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Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Gene Durkee. |
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Davis |
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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 June 18, 2013, 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 |