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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Charles W. Edwards, Jr., a longtime chaplain and |
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a retired brigadier general in the Texas State Guard, is being |
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honored by the Wharton community for his many achievements on June |
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15, 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Wharton, Charles Edwards joined the |
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U.S. Army in 1966 and served as an infantryman in South Korea; after |
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completing active duty, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and |
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continued his education, earning a bachelor's degree from Jarvis |
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Christian College in 1970 and a master's degree from Christian |
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Theological Seminary in Indianapolis in 1973; Dr. Edwards received |
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his commission as a first lieutenant in 1976 and soon entered active |
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duty again, this time as a chaplain at Fort Lewis, Washington; he |
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continued to serve as a military chaplain for the next three |
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decades, holding a wide range of assignments in the regular army, in |
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the Texas Army National Guard, with which he served from 1979 |
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through the end of 2003, and in the Texas State Guard, with which he |
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served from 2004 until his retirement in 2007; during his last three |
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years with the National Guard, Dr. Edwards served as the State Area |
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Command Chaplain, and during the final months of his military |
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career, he became the first individual to be appointed Joint Forces |
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Headquarters Command Chaplain; in that capacity, he oversaw all |
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chaplains and chaplain assistants in the Texas Army National Guard, |
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Texas Air National Guard, and Texas State Guard; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman has consistently sought out |
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opportunities to minister to others; between 1968 and 1992, while |
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carrying out his military duties, he also pastored churches in |
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Illinois, Indiana, and Texas; moreover, to deepen his skills and |
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understanding, he embarked on doctoral studies in ministry at |
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Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, receiving his degree in |
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1989; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in numerous military associations, he has |
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served as national chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the |
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Disabled Veterans of America, as department chaplain for the |
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American Legion, and as chief of chaplains for the State Guard |
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Association of the United States; in recent years, he has further |
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served as chaplain with the FBI in San Antonio and with the San |
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Antonio Police Department; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Edwards is also founder and CEO of the Edwards |
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Ministerial Association, which provides support to veterans, law |
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enforcement personnel, and members of civic organizations and |
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educational institutions; along with other programs, the |
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organization awards scholarships to help disabled veterans, |
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underprivileged students, and seminary students pursue their |
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education; and |
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WHEREAS, After returning to Texas in 1980, Dr. Edwards worked |
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at the Travis State School in Austin, where he held the post of |
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director of human resource development/staff services; he retired |
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from that position in 1992 and subsequently served as chief of the |
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chaplain service for the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, |
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an office he held until 2003; since 2004, he has served as chief |
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financial officer for a child development center in Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Edwards is the recipient of numerous military |
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decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service |
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Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal, as well |
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as the Texas National Guard Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, |
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Outstanding Service Medal, and Adjutant General's Individual |
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Award; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Dr. Edwards has enjoyed the |
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love and support of his wife of 44 years, the former Felisha |
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L. Pulliam; the couple have been blessed with a fine family that |
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includes three children, Charles, Christopher, and Sylvia, and |
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eight grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Edwards has committed his life to the |
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service of others, and his contributions and accomplishments are |
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indeed worthy of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Dr. Charles W. Edwards, Jr., for his |
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immeasurable contributions in behalf of his country and his |
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community and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Edwards as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Allen |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1341 was adopted by the House on April |
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17, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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