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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 90th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed a |
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special occasion, and the Honorable Carl Everett Lidell of Jonah |
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marked that significant milestone in his life on February 23, 2013; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Taylor in 1923, Mr. Lidell is the son of Per |
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and Myrtle Lidell; he worked on the family farm in Jonah as a boy, |
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and he was issued his driver's license at the age of 12, allowing |
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him to transport his three sisters to school and confirmation |
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classes in a Model T coupe; after graduating from Georgetown High |
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School, he attended Southwestern University, where he played guard |
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on the football team; he later transferred to The University of |
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Texas at Austin and was employed part-time on the staff of a state |
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senator; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lidell enlisted in the United States Navy in |
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1943 and trained stateside as a pilot; when his unit was disbanded, |
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he was honorably discharged from the navy and promptly reenlisted |
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in the U.S. Merchant Marine, serving his country in the Pacific |
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theater during World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, Following demobilization, Mr. Lidell returned to |
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help his father on the farm; he married the former Marie Pearson in |
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1949, and they became the parents of three sons, John, Lynn, and |
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Michael; in the 1960s, the Lidells purchased the family farm and |
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additional acreage, and Mr. Lidell also began farming another 200 |
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acres owned by his wife's family; he was named Williamson County |
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Agriculturalist of the Year and Outstanding Conservation Farmer in |
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1970; an individual of diverse talents, he earned his real estate |
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license in 1984 and was affiliated with Clyde Swenson Real Estate |
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and then TEX US Real Estate and Investments; and |
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WHEREAS, This admired civic leader joined with four other |
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citizens to found the Jonah Water Supply Corporation in 1970; over |
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subsequent decades, it grew to serve thousands of people and became |
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the Jonah Water Special Utility District; Mr. Lidell helped guide |
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its operations as president and general manager, and he continues |
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to serve as a member of the board; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lidell's dedication to his community was further |
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demonstrated through his work as a county commissioner from 1977 to |
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1984; moreover, he has been active in Rotary International for many |
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years, and he has served the congregation at Hutto Lutheran Church |
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as a Sunday school teacher, as superintendent, and as a member and |
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president of the church council; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the death of Marie Lidell in 1996, |
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Mr. Lidell was fortunate enough to find love a second time, and he |
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married the former Alice L. "Grace" Bulgerin in 1998; the couple |
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have shared their time and talents with Angel Food Ministries, and |
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in 2009 they were named Volunteers of the Year by the Hutto Area |
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Chamber of Commerce; in addition, Mr. Lidell is the recipient of the |
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Distinguished Service Award from Jonah Community, Inc., and that |
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honor is indeed a fitting tribute to a man who is known to many as |
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"Mr. Jonah"; and |
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WHEREAS, Carl Everett Lidell has devoted himself to making |
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positive contributions in behalf of his fellow citizens, and his |
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kindness, warmth, and wonderful sense of humor have enriched the |
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lives of innumerable people through the decades; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Carl Everett Lidell on his 90th |
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birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Lidell as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |