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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost a respected educator with |
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the death of former Mesquite Independent School District |
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superintendent Dr. Ralph Harris Poteet, who passed away on |
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September 23, 2012, at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Desdemona on July 12, 1926, to Sybil and |
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William Poteet, Ralph Poteet attended Stephenville High School and |
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graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown; he served his |
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country in World War II and continued his education with graduate |
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studies at The University of Texas at Austin and UT Arlington; he |
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received his doctorate from East Texas State University; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Poteet began his career in education in Bartlett |
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in 1949, serving as a teacher, coach, and principal; he moved to |
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Mesquite in 1955 to work as the head football coach, and five years |
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later he was appointed business manager for the district; he served |
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as assistant superintendent before being named district |
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superintendent in 1964; and |
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WHEREAS, For 22 years, Dr. Poteet oversaw Mesquite ISD, ably |
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guiding district schools through a period of significant growth; |
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during his tenure, the district expanded to include 29 schools, and |
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30 new buildings were constructed on area campuses; Dr. Poteet was |
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an energetic and visionary administrator who emphasized discipline |
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and hard work, and he helped the district become one of the most |
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innovative school systems in Texas, establishing the first public |
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school radio station, along with a public school television station |
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and a planetarium that were also among the earliest in the state; |
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moreover, he created a school-community partnership program that |
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established a park along with each new school; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Poteet was recognized with numerous awards for |
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his leadership, including a Texas Superintendent of the Year |
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regional award, the National Leadership Award from the National |
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School Development Council, and the Outstanding Leadership Award |
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from Phi Delta Kappa International, and he was named Mesquite |
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Citizen of the Year twice; for his retirement in 1986, President |
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Ronald Reagan, Texas Governor Mark White, and many other elected |
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officials sent congratulatory letters; moreover, a new high school, |
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the fourth in the district, was named for him, and his initials of |
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RHP inspired the school's motto, "Respect, Honor, and Pride"; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement, Dr. Poteet continued to |
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serve as a consultant with the district; he published articles on |
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education in several magazines and served as an adjunct professor |
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at East Texas State University; he further shared his time and |
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talents as the chair of Keep Mesquite Beautiful, as a director of |
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the Dallas County Appraisal District and the Christian Care Center, |
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and as a member of the local Lions Club and chamber of commerce and |
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the North Texas Council of Governments; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of faith, Dr. Poteet belonged to the Church of |
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Christ and served his congregation as a deacon and elder; in all of |
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his endeavors, he enjoyed the love and support of his wife of 65 |
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years, Anne Thomas Poteet, and he took great pride in their |
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daughter, Carol Anne Tipton, and her husband, Steve, as well as in |
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their grandsons, Casey, Jake, and Zach Tipton; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family, his profession, and |
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his community, Dr. Ralph Poteet made a positive difference in the |
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lives of countless area Texans, and he leaves behind a legacy that |
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will resonate for years to come; 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 Dr. Ralph Poteet and |
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extend deepest sympathy to his friends and loved ones; 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 memory of Dr. Ralph |
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Poteet. |