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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Artist and author Bill Rakocy of El Paso celebrated |
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his 89th birthday on April 14, 2013, and a host of his friends and |
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admirers gathered to honor this accomplished man; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1924, "Rak" Rakocy |
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demonstrated his gift for drawing at an early age and went on to |
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enroll at the Butler Institute of American Art, where tuition was 50 |
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cents per class; he continued pursuing his art as a member of the |
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U.S. Navy in the Philip |
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pines during World War II, painting |
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portraits of his friends and shipping them home; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rakocy subsequently earned both his bachelor's |
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and master's degrees in fine arts at the Kansas City Art Institute; |
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while there, he met Gloria Canterbury, also a talented artist, who |
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has been his wife and companion for more than six decades; together, |
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they are the parents of five children; and |
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WHEREAS, The couple lived in Ohio for 15 years before |
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Mr. Rakocy accepted a position as chair of the fine arts program at |
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the College of Artesia in New Mexico; in 1970, he was hired as |
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curator of education and curator of collections at the El Paso |
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Museum of Art, and he remained in those roles until his retirement |
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in 1986; and |
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WHEREAS, For many years, Mr. Rakocy has explored his |
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fascination with the American Southwest in paintings and murals |
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distinguished by a vivid, impressionistic style, depicting |
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landscapes, industrial scenes, and episodes from history; in |
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addition, he has authored a number of books on Southwestern |
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history, including The Kid: Billy the Kid, Images: Paso del Norte, |
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and Trails to Ruidoso; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rakocy has likewise been a pillar of the El Paso |
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arts community through his work with the International Museum of |
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Art, the El Paso Art Association, and the Plein Air Painters of El |
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Paso; moreover, he founded the Rio Bravo Watercolorists in 1971 and |
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twice served as its president; and |
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WHEREAS, Now on the threshold of his 90th year, Bill Rakocy |
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continues to inspire and delight others with his distinctive talent |
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and drive, and it is a pleasure to recognize him for 89 years of life |
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well lived; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Bill "Rak" Rakocy on his 89th |
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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. Rakocy as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Marquez |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1811 was adopted by the House on May |
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8, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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