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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Homer W. Lear, who rendered notable service to his |
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country both in wartime and in peace, passed away on September 23, |
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2012, at the age of 92; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lear was born on August 12, 1920, in Oil Hill, |
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Kansas; after attending college for two years, he answered his |
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nation's call to duty and joined the Aviation Cadet Program at Kelly |
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Field in 1941; he was commissioned as a pilot and served as an |
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aircraft commander in the 19th Bomb Group, based on Guam, during |
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World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Lear continued to serve in the |
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armed forces for more than two decades, spending nearly 20 years in |
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the Strategic Air Command and also working at the Pentagon; he |
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played an important role in the activation of the first air-to-air |
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refueling units for military jets at Biggs Air Force Base in El |
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Paso, and he had the memorable assignment of escorting aviation |
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hero Charles Lindbergh on a tour of SAC bases; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lear retired from the air force in 1968 at the |
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rank of colonel; he spent the next 19 years with the Weyerhaeuser |
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Company and then joined the International Executive Service Corps, |
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a nonprofit economic development organization; while affiliated |
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with the IESC, he assisted with projects in Lebanon, the |
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Philippines, and the Dominican Republic; and |
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WHEREAS, This civic-minded Texan also served with |
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distinction in the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, where he was |
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honored with the title of speaker emeritus; in 1995, Mr. Lear was |
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elected to the first National Silver Haired Congress; he went on to |
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work extensively with that group, as well, and was elected to four |
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terms as chair of the board; in addition, he served as a delegate to |
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both the 1995 and 2005 White House Conferences on Aging; back home |
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in San Antonio, he helped to make voting more convenient for a |
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number of older veterans and their spouses through the |
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establishment of a new precinct for Air Force Village, a retirement |
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community, and he served as a precinct election judge; he also |
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served on the Air Force Village Board of Directors, and he was |
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actively involved in his Rotary Club; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lear married his high school sweetheart, Mary |
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Jane Griggs, in 1942; the couple became the proud parents of two |
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children and shared a loving marriage of nearly seven decades |
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before her passing in 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Homer Lear achieved a life that was rich in purpose |
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and accomplishments, and his inspiring example of good cheer and |
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tireless public service will live forever in the hearts of all who |
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knew him; now, 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 Homer W. Lear and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his son, |
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Steven, and his wife, Catherine; to his daughter, Rebecca, and her |
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husband, John; to his 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; |
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and to his other relatives and many 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Homer |
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W. Lear. |