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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The City of Arlington and the State of Texas lost a |
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distinguished native son with the death of former mayor Harold |
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E. Patterson, who passed away on March 20, 2009, at the age of 79; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born on March 27, 1929, to William T. and Mary |
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J. Patterson, Harold Patterson was the youngest of 14 children; he |
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served his country in the United States Marine Corps for two years |
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and went on to preside over four different Arlington banks; and |
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WHEREAS, Eager to give back to his community, Mr. Patterson |
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made public service a priority throughout his life; he served as a |
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member of the Arlington Parks and Recreation Board and the |
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education advisory board of the Arlington Independent School |
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District, and he was president of the Arlington Boys Club, the |
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Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and the local Lions Club; in |
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addition, he held a seat on the board of directors of Arlington |
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Community Hospital; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Patterson was first elected to the Arlington |
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City Council in 1966, and he became mayor pro tempore 11 years after |
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that; he was elected mayor in 1983 and served two terms, overseeing |
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Arlington at a time of tremendous growth; during his |
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administration, the city began fluoridating its water, greatly |
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expanded its transportation infrastructure, and earned its first AA |
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bond rating; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Patterson was honored by many |
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area organizations for his leadership, and a sports complex in |
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South Arlington was named for him; after serving as mayor, he |
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started his own property tax consulting business, and later he won a |
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position on the Tarrant Appraisal District Board; he never once |
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lost an election; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of faith, Mr. Patterson was a longtime member |
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of the First Baptist Church of Arlington; he and his wife, Frances, |
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shared a devoted marriage of 60 years and became the proud parents |
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of two children, Michael and Teresa; his life was further blessed |
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with a daughter-in-law, Debi, a son-in-law, Steve, six |
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grandchildren, Ryan, Josh, Tyler, Travis, Chase, and Tiffany, and a |
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great-grandchild, Hannah; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his enduring dedication to Arlington and its |
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citizens, Harold Patterson made a lasting, positive difference, and |
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he will long be remembered with admiration and affection; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Harold E. Patterson |
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and his exemplary record of service to the people of Arlington. |
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Patrick |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 38 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
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vote of the House on February 18, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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