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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Tyler lost an admired business and |
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community leader with the death of Ralph Leonard Davis on April 3, |
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2013, at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, Ralph Davis was born on August 11, 1926, in Houston, |
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the only child of Herman and Rebecca Freedman Davis; raised in |
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Livingston, Mr. Davis was class president at Livingston High |
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School, and he attended Shriner College before returning home to |
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help his mother run his family's business, the Fair Store, when his |
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father became ill; and |
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WHEREAS, After honorably serving in the U.S. Army, he moved |
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to Tyler and purchased two dress shops, which he grew into a |
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thriving business, the R. L. Davis Manufacturing Company; he |
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expanded the organization further when the U.S. Army contracted him |
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to make pants during the Vietnam War; the company was a founding |
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member of Dallas' World Trade Center, and Mr. Davis later opened |
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R. L. Davis Fine Gifts and The Christmas Store; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan contributed to his community as |
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president of the Texas Rose Festival and the Tyler Museum of Art; he |
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was also devoted to many civic and charitable causes, including |
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Congregation Beth El, the Jewish Federation of Tyler, Mother |
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Frances Hospital-Tyler, the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and the |
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Shriners; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Davis shared a rewarding 26-year marriage with |
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his wife, Judith Sugerman Davis; after her passing, he was blessed |
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to find love again with Gloria Kusin Bishkin, whom he married in |
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2002; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Ralph Davis will be deeply missed, memories |
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of his kindness, generosity, and wonderful sense of humor will long |
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endure in the hearts of all those who shared in the richness of his |
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life; now, 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 Ralph Leonard Davis |
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and extend sincere sympathy to his wife, Gloria Bishkin Davis, and |
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to his other family members and friends, including Cathy, Will, |
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Charlie, and Gary Golden, Lori and Sara Stahl, and Bruce, Jim, |
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Tracey, and Jane Bishkin; 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 Ralph |
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Leonard Davis. |