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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The students, faculty, and alumni of Brazosport |
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College bade farewell to an esteemed educator and administrator in |
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December 2012, when Dr. John Ray retired from that institution |
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after more than 40 years of service; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Ray earned bachelor's and master's degrees in |
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biology from Stephen F. Austin State University, and in the fall of |
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1972, he began his notable tenure at Brazosport College as a biology |
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professor; he went on to serve as division chair of mathematics and |
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science from 1981 until 1987, when he received his doctoral degree |
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in educational administration from the University of Houston; after |
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briefly chairing the Long Range Planning Committee, he was tapped |
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to serve as vice president of the college in 1988; he further shared |
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his expertise with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, |
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for which he was chair of the Developmental Education Task Force and |
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the Texas Academic Success Program Committee; and |
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WHEREAS, In his role as dean of industry and community |
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resources, a post he held from 1996 until his retirement, Dr. Ray |
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coordinated noncredit programs, research, and grant development, |
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and he had responsibility for the college's planning and |
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institutional effectiveness activities as well as its Small |
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Business Development Center and information technology; |
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additionally, he led the data team for the Achieving the Dream |
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initiative, a campus-wide effort to eliminate achievement |
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disparities by reaching out to first-year students; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in the Lake Jackson community, he has served |
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on the board of the Brazosport Area Chamber of Commerce for several |
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years; he is the current president of the Stilwell Retirement |
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Residence and previously served as a member of the Salvation Army |
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board and as president of Lake Jackson Emergency Medical Service; |
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he is also a faithful congregant at First United Methodist Church of |
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Lake Jackson, where he taught Sunday school for over 30 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Blessed with a fine family, Dr. Ray enjoys traveling |
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the world with his wife, Jane, his son, Jake, and his sister-in-law, |
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Jill Burkindine, and he counts bird-watching among his favorite |
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pursuits; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. John Ray's visionary leadership and dedication |
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have contributed to a host of positive developments at Brazosport |
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College, and he leaves behind a record of distinguished service |
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that continues to resonate around the campus and throughout the |
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community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. John Ray |
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on his retirement as dean of industry and community resources at |
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Brazosport College and extend to him sincere best wishes for the |
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future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Ray as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |