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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of Louis Pitcock, Jr., of Graham on March |
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22, 2013, at the age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Louis and Medora Shepherd Pitcock, Louis |
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Pitcock, Jr., was born on June 18, 1924, in Fort Worth, and he |
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graduated from Graham High School in 1942; answering his country's |
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call to duty, he worked in intelligence during World War II as a |
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member of the U.S. armed forces in the China-Burma-India theater; |
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he began his college studies at the University of North Texas and |
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then transferred to Southwestern University, where he earned a |
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bachelor's degree in government and history and was a member of Phi |
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Delta Theta fraternity; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his graduation in 1949, he married the |
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former Mary Ellen McFarlane, the daughter of congressman and Texas |
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state legislator W. D. McFarlane, and Mr. and Mrs. Pitcock later |
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became the parents of three children, Ellen, Louis, and Thomas; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pitcock made his living working with his father |
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and brothers at Pitcock, Inc., a business encompassing oil and gas |
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development and production, ranching, and real estate; highly |
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respected by his professional peers, he was a member of the boards |
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of the West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association, the North Texas |
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Oil and Gas Association, and the Independent Petroleum Association |
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of America, and he belonged to the Texas Alliance of Energy |
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Producers; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pitcock was dedicated to enhancing the quality |
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of public and higher education throughout his life, and he was |
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appointed by Governor John B. Connally to the board of regents for |
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Midwestern State University, serving from 1968 to 1974 and holding |
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the post of chair for two years; at the local level, he chaired the |
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Graham Community Committee, which focused on postsecondary |
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academic and vocational learning, and he helped draft the ordinance |
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to establish the Board of Higher Education Commission of the City of |
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Graham; his involvement with his alma mater included service with |
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the Southwestern University President's Council and the 50-plus |
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Southwestern Alumni Association; moreover, he was a member of the |
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Phi Delta Theta Century Club, and in 1990 he was named Distinguished |
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Alumnus of the Year by the Texas Gamma Chapter of Phi Delta Theta; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pitcock also contributed to his community in |
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numerous other ways; active in Rotary International, he held a |
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number of offices in the Rotary Club of Graham, was governor of |
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Rotary District 5790 for 10 years, and led a Rotary Foundation Group |
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Study Exchange Team to India in 1986; this dynamic Texan served on |
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the board of directors of the Graham Chamber of Commerce and as a |
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member of the Graham Planning and Zoning Commission, and he chaired |
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the Graham United Way, the Graham Area Day Care Center, and the |
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Graham Public Library; and |
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WHEREAS, A lifelong man of faith, he was a valued member of |
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the First United Methodist Church of Graham, and he benefited the |
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congregation in many areas of responsibility; in addition, he |
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served his community of faith at the district level, was a delegate |
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to general conferences, and served on the boards of trustees of the |
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Methodist Children's Home in Waco and Aldersgate Enrichment Center |
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in Brownwood; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pitcock was interested in politics as well; he |
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served on the executive committee of the Young County Democratic |
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Party for three decades, including 12 years as chair, and he was a |
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delegate to a number of state conventions; in his spare time, he |
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loved to travel, and in 2007 he and Mrs. Pitcock had the pleasure of |
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taking a trip around the world; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the passing of Louis Pitcock, Jr., has |
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brought great sorrow to those who knew him, his life stands as an |
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outstanding example of positive civic engagement, and his |
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achievements will be remembered and admired for years to come; now, |
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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 Louis Pitcock, Jr., |
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and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Mary; to his daughter, Ellen Morris, and her husband, |
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Charles; to his sons, Louis Pitcock III and his wife, Meredith, and |
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Thomas Carl Pitcock; to his grandchildren, Mary Heartfield and her |
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husband, Alex, Amanda Wells and her husband, Eric, Justin Pitcock |
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and his wife, Kallie, Dalton Pitcock and his wife, Gabby, and |
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Meredith Ann Pitcock; to his nine great-grandchildren; and to his |
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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 Louis |
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Pitcock, Jr. |