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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Amarillo lost one of their most |
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esteemed community leaders with the death of Monsignor Joseph Tash |
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on May 21, 2012, at the age of 77; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Edward and Anna Corey Tash on March 2, 1935, |
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in Barre, Vermont, Joseph Tash graduated from Spaulding High School |
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and attended St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont; he |
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obtained a degree in philosophy from St. John's Seminary in |
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Brighton, Massachusetts, and completed additional postgraduate |
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work in theology at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard |
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Lake, Michigan; he was ordained to the priesthood in 1962; and |
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WHEREAS, Father Tash traveled to Amarillo and served as an |
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assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church from 1962 to 1967; because of |
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his Lebanese heritage and familiarity with the unique traditions of |
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the Maronite Rite, he was called to assist the St. Louis Gonzaga |
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Maronite Catholic Church in Utica, New York, for a year but returned |
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to Amarillo in 1968; and |
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WHEREAS, On his return to the Amarillo diocese, Father Tash |
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was assigned to serve as chaplain, director of pastoral care, and |
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director of mission and ministry at St. Anthony's Hospital; in |
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1980, he became responsible for the hospital's planning and |
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development; over the course of his 25-year tenure with |
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St. Anthony's, he co-chaired the medical ethics committee, served |
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on the administrative council, and acted as director of community |
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relations; he was also instrumental in both the fund-raising |
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efforts for the St. Anthony's Foundation and the establishment of |
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St. Anthony's Hospice; and |
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WHEREAS, During that same period, Father Tash was involved in |
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the establishment of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and |
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served as its founding pastor when it opened in 1982; he was named a |
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Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope John Paul II in 1986 and |
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thereafter served his congregation as Monsignor Tash; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his service at the church and |
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hospital, Monsignor Tash was involved in numerous charitable |
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organizations and local causes; enthusiastic about preaching |
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against the societal dangers of drug use, he helped organize |
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Operation Drug Alert and organized Kairos House for rehabilitation; |
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he served two terms as the campaign chair of the United Way of |
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Amarillo & Canyon and was a chair of the March of Dimes; he also |
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served on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House, Catholic Family |
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Service, the Downtown Women's Center, the Amarillo Kidney |
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Foundation, the Amarillo Heart Association, and the Amarillo |
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Symphony; and |
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WHEREAS, Monsignor Tash enjoyed such pastimes as golf, |
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bowling, cooking, and needlepoint; he taught his mother's Lebanese |
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recipes in a class at Amarillo College, and his Christmas |
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needlework was well known around the parish; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of generosity, energy, and great faith, |
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Monsignor Joseph Tash made a positive difference in the lives of |
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many, and his work will be remembered and admired for years to come; |
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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 Monsignor Joseph Tash |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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brothers, Nathan Tash and Francis Tash and his wife, Irene; to his |
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sister, Barbara Tash Callahan; to his nephews, Michael Callahan, |
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Patrick Callahan and his wife, Joyce, Edward Tash, and Francis |
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"Buddy" Tash; to his nieces, Emily Callahan, Donna Tash, and Susan |
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Tash; and to his friends and congregants; 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 Monsignor |
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Joseph Tash. |