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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The certain knowledge of a life well lived may |
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temper the profound sadness felt at the loss of Paul Gene Roden, who |
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passed away on June 24, 2013, at the age of 75; and |
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WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Paris, Texas, Mr. Roden was |
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born on April 21, 1938, to Paul Gene Roden, Sr., and Cecile Loraine |
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Denton Roden; he attended Paris Junior College and earned his |
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bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University before |
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graduating from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1961; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Roden established a notable career as a funeral |
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director, continuing a family tradition that had begun two |
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generations before, and he also distinguished himself in his work |
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as an insurance executive; highly respected by his peers, he was a |
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member of the Texas Association of Insurance Officials, the Texas |
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Association of Life and Health Insurers, and the East Texas, Texas, |
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and National Funeral Directors Associations; and |
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WHEREAS, This dedicated community leader served on the City |
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of Paris Traffic and Thoroughfares Commission and the Master |
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Planning and Redistricting Committees; he further benefited his |
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fellow citizens as a director on the executive board of the Ark-Tex |
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Council of Governments, as chair of Workforce Solutions Northeast |
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Texas, and as chair of the Paris Junior College Board of Regents; |
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his contributions to the college were recognized with his induction |
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into its Hall of Honor in 2012; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in a number of civic organizations as well, |
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Mr. Roden shared his time with the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce, |
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the Jaycees, the Rotary Club, the Red River Valley Council of the |
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Girl Scouts of America, and CASA for Kids; in addition, he was a |
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valued member of the congregation at Lamar Avenue Church of Christ; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Roden married the former Anita Jean Franklin in |
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1978, and the couple shared a rewarding marriage that spanned more |
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than 34 years; he was a caring father to his four children, Kathy, |
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Paul, Ward, and Kevin, and the beloved "Papi" of six grandchildren; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Those fortunate enough to have known Paul Roden will |
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remember the way he touched their lives with his kind, joyful |
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spirit, and he will forever hold a treasured place in their hearts; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Paul Gene |
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Roden and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Anita Roden; to his children, Kathy Floyd and her husband, |
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Randy, Paul Kirk Roden and his wife, Kate, Ward Hall and his wife, |
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Laurel, and Kevin Hall and his fiancee, Tracy Scott; to his |
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grandchildren, Ross and Kellen Floyd and Arden, Brink, Ethan, and |
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Jake Hall; to his adoptive grandson, Christopher Hudson; to his |
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sister, Mary Suzanne Roden; to his brother, Marcus Lee Roden, and |
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his wife, Sharon; to his brother-in-law, Clifford Franklin, and his |
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wife, Betsy; to his aunt, Jessie Denton; to Katherine Hughes; and to |
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his 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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Paul Gene Roden. |