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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Robert Leonadis McKinney, Jr., of Big Lake on June 15, |
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2011, at the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Big Lake on July 9, 1923, R. L. McKinney was |
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the son of Lonnie and Nilla Coates McKinney; he was descended from |
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Mordecai McKinney, who was born on the Isle of Skye in Scotland in |
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1685 and emigrated to New Jersey; his other ancestors included |
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Collin McKinney, one of the five men who drafted the Texas |
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Declaration of Independence at the Convention of 1836 and a member |
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of the committee that drafted the constitution of the Republic of |
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Texas; this forebear was the namesake of both Collin County and its |
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county seat, McKinney, and the pen he used to sign the declaration |
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remains in the family; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. McKinney began helping to support his family at |
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the age of seven, following the untimely death of his father; he |
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sold newspapers and theater popcorn, and after graduating from |
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Reagan County High School, he turned down a scholarship to Texas |
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Tech University in order to work on the family ranch; with his |
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savings and a $400 loan from the bank, he purchased 140 breeding |
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ewes; his agricultural employment qualified him for a deferment |
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during World War II, but he chose to join the United States Navy and |
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served as a radio operator on the U.S.S. Prometheus in the Pacific |
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theater; and |
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WHEREAS, When he returned from the war, Mr. McKinney married |
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the love of his life, the former Mary Evelyn Stout; they became the |
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proud parents of three children, Pete, Cheryl, and Lorri, and |
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through the years, Mr. McKinney knew the joy of welcoming six |
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grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A respected member of his community, Mr. McKinney |
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owned and operated S & S 66 and Southwest Fuel Company for more than |
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three decades; he was a caring mentor to numerous young men who |
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worked for him in the summers, and many of them wrote to express |
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their appreciation for the lessons he taught regarding the value of |
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hard work and responsibility; and |
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WHEREAS, This civic-minded Texan was a member of the Lions |
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Club, the chamber of commerce, the American Legion, and the First |
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Methodist Church; he was also a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge |
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and a charter member of the Big Lake Golf Association, where he |
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enjoyed playing rounds with his golf buddies; his formal accolades |
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included selection as Retail Business Member of the Year by the |
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chamber, and through his kindness and friendship toward all, he |
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earned the nickname "the Prince of Reagan County"; and |
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WHEREAS, R. L. McKinney enriched the lives of all who were |
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fortunate enough to know him, and although he is deeply missed, |
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memories of his warmth and generosity will forever remain a source |
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of inspiration to his loved ones; 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 Robert Leonadis |
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McKinney, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Evelyn Stout McKinney; to his children, Robert |
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Leonadis "Pete" McKinney III and his wife, Patrice, Cheryl |
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deCordova and her husband, Aubrey, and Lorri Jenkins and her |
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husband, Mike; to his grandchildren, Rachel Beaver and her husband, |
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Jonathan, Robert Leonadis McKinney IV and his wife, Angie, Scott |
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Jenkins, Kayla Jenkins, Emily deCordova, and Clay deCordova and his |
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wife, Shelia; to his five great-grandchildren; and to his many |
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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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of |
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R. L. McKinney. |