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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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death of Bill O. Simmons of Sunrise Beach on November 24, 2012, at |
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the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Bill Simmons was born in Eastland County on June 23, |
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1923, to Ernest Theodore Simmons and Addie Grace Simmons; in 1943, |
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he was joined in matrimony to the former Bernice "Bobbie" Peters, |
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and the couple shared nearly seven decades together; along the way, |
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they became the parents of two sons, Bill and Paul; and |
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WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty during World War |
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II, Mr. Simmons served as an officer in the 9th Air Force, and he |
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continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve after the war, returning |
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to active duty as provost marshal at Perrin Air Force Base from 1951 |
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to 1953; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Simmons began his career in 1947, when he joined |
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the Texas Department of Public Safety; he and his family lived in |
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Austin, Gainesville, and Corsicana before moving to Midland, where |
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he established his own business, Simco Hydrocarbon Well Logging; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In 1990, after more than three decades in Midland, |
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Mr. Simmons and his wife relocated to Llano County, where he became |
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a civic leader and served as county commissioner; Mr. Simmons was |
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appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Telecommunications |
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Infrastructure Fund Board, and he also held the post of council |
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president of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church; he continued to |
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honor his service in the nation's military as a member of the B-26 |
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Marauder Historical Society; active with the Republican Party of |
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Texas as well, he served as chair of the Llano County Republican |
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Party; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family and his community, Bill |
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Simmons made a meaningful difference in many lives, and his |
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contributions will be remembered for years to come; now, therefore, |
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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 Bill O. Simmons and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife |
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of 69 years, Bobbie Simmons; to his sons, Bill O. Simmons, Jr., and |
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his wife, Pam, and Paul D. Simmons and his wife, Kandi; to his |
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granddaughter, Ellen Hargrove; to his great-grandchildren, Claire |
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Elizabeth Hargrove, Benjamine Pyton Hargrove, and Audrey Grace |
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Hargrove; and to his 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 Bill |
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Simmons. |