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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, An esteemed Texan and friend to many, A. J. Cain of |
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Midland passed away on February 3, 2013, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Big Spring on August 31, 1928, to Alice |
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Haynes Cain and Andrew Jackson Cain, A. J. Cain graduated from Big |
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Spring High School; he enlisted in the United States Army when he |
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was all of 17 years old, and after completing his service, he was |
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honorably discharged in 1948; he subsequently attended Howard |
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County Junior College and then transferred to the University of |
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North Texas, where he earned a degree in marketing; a talented |
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athlete, he played baseball and football and ran track while in high |
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school and college; and |
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WHEREAS, On September 8, 1951, A. J. Cain exchanged wedding |
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vows with the former Bonnie Dempsey in Big Spring, and the couple |
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became the proud parents of two daughters, Chris and Diane; Mr. and |
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Mrs. Cain enjoyed a loving marriage of 58 years, until her passing |
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in 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cain's first employment after college was with |
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the Hughes Tool Company, and during his time with that |
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organization, he and his family lived in Odessa, Levelland, |
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Brownfield, and Andrews; in 1956, he accepted a job with Mustang |
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Mud, beginning a longtime career in the drilling mud business; |
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Mr. and Mrs. Cain relocated to Midland in 1963 and made that |
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community their home for the rest of their lives; and |
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WHEREAS, Working with Mustang Mud gave Mr. Cain the chance to |
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meet many people, and his clients often became close friends; aside |
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from his work, he enjoyed time spent with the downtown morning |
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coffee group he belonged to, and he was an avid sports fan, |
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especially loyal to the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers; he also |
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took great pleasure in art, music, the theater, delicious food, and |
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good books; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cain attended Trinity Presbyterian Church for |
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nearly half a century, serving at various times as a ruling elder, |
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deacon, and trustee and assisting his wife with the youth |
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fellowship group, accompanying them on mission trips and |
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excursions; late in life, he joined Grace Presbyterian Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Generous and giving, Mr. Cain helped many young |
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people to continue their education, offering encouragement and |
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assistance, and he supported the work of nonprofits and charitable |
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organizations; he loved to travel with his wife, exploring the |
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country and the world, and he took up flying in his forties; a |
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favorite spot to visit was the family cabin in Ruidoso, New Mexico, |
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where he would hike, ski, entertain friends, and watch and feed the |
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birds; and |
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WHEREAS, A. J. Cain was a gentle man whose boundless warmth |
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and zest for life will long be remembered by everyone who had the |
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privilege of knowing 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 memory of A. J. Cain and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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daughters, Chris Cain Laufer and her husband, Jeff, and Diane Cain |
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Warner and her husband, Tom; to his five grandchildren, Shannon |
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Laufer Mann and her husband, John, Elyse Laufer Starr and her |
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husband, Ryan, Jake Laufer and his wife, Courtney, Thomas Michael |
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Warner, and Luke Warner; to his great-grandchild, Hayley Starr; to |
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his sisters, Billie Carr and Betty Lively; and to his other |
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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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A. J. Cain. |