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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 Clifford Roy Wherley of Greenville on February 8, 2013, |
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at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on May 28, 1927, in Illinois, Mr. Wherley was a |
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dedicated patriot who was determined to serve his country in World |
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War II; although he was only 14 at the time, he managed to convince |
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recruiters that he was of age, and he entered the Army Air Forces in |
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1942; assigned as a top turret gunner on a B-26 bomber, he fought in |
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32 missions and flew on raids with General Jimmy Doolittle, |
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receiving the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters for his |
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distinguished service in England and North Africa; when the army |
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learned of his true age, he was granted an honorable discharge; |
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Mr. Wherley went on a nationwide bond tour and worked at a defense |
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plant for a time but was anxious to return to active duty; he joined |
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the U.S. Navy and was once more designated to be a turret gunner on |
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a B-26, but his age was discovered and he was sent home; undeterred, |
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Mr. Wherley reenlisted in the Army Air Forces and was briefly |
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deployed to the South Pacific before his status as a minor was |
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revealed and he was shipped stateside again; and |
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WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Wherley served as a police |
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officer and deputy sheriff in Florida; he married a Texan, June |
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Rogers, and they moved to Henderson County, where Mr. Wherley |
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earned his living as a truck driver and served as a justice of the |
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peace; over the course of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wherley were |
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blessed with four sons and two daughters, and they lived in Garland |
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and Carrollton before moving to Greenville; Mrs. Wherley passed |
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away in 1995, and Mr. Wherley later enjoyed the love and support of |
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his second wife, Juanita; and |
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WHEREAS, Frequently seen wearing a World War II veteran's |
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hat, Clifford Wherley took great pride in having served his |
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country, and he will be remembered with admiration and affection by |
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all who had the good fortune to know 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 Clifford Roy Wherley |
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and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Juanita Wherley; to his sons, Chuck, Benny, Steven, and Glenn |
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Wherley; to his daughters, Sandra Groom and Paula Dillinger; to his |
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stepson, Caleb Ewing; to his brother, Eldon Wherley; to his |
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grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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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 honor of Clifford Roy |
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Wherley. |