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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Colonel Gerald R. Betty of the Texas State Guard |
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achieved the rank of brigadier general, and this promotion provides |
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fitting recognition of his long record of distinguished service to |
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this state and the nation; and |
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WHEREAS, "Jake" Betty began his military career in 1973, when |
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he joined the U.S. Army; he spent three years on active duty at Fort |
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Benning, Georgia, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, rising to the rank |
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of first lieutenant, and then from 1977 to 1979, he was a member of |
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the Army National Guard; he continued his service over the course of |
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the next quarter-century as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, |
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specializing in military intelligence; he returned to active duty |
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twice, in support of Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia from September |
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1997 to May 1998 and in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003; |
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promoted several times along the way, he retired with the rank of |
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colonel in 2003; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly decorated, Colonel Betty has been awarded the |
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Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf |
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Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, |
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the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army |
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Achievement Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal |
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with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the National Defense Service Medal |
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with two Bronze Service Stars, among many other honors; and |
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WHEREAS, Colonel Betty graduated from Texas A&M University |
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with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics and a master's |
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degree in educational administration; his affiliation with the |
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university also includes working for the Office of the Commandant |
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in such positions as chief of staff, interim commandant, and deputy |
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commandant; he retired from Texas A&M in 2012; and |
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WHEREAS, Since January 2006, Colonel Betty has served with |
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distinction as a member of the Texas State Guard, most recently, in |
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the J-1 section of headquarters in Austin; at his new rank, he will |
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be the deputy commanding general of the Army Component Command; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his endeavors, Colonel Betty has enjoyed |
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the love and support of his wife of 37 years, Juli, as well as their |
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children, Josh and Alison, and his treasured family further |
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includes three grandchildren, Jax, Joy-Lindsey, and Rudder; and |
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WHEREAS, Colonel Jake Betty has devoted himself to protecting |
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and defending this state and nation for a remarkable four decades, |
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and his promotion to brigadier general represents a resounding vote |
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of confidence in his ability to meet the challenges and |
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opportunities that lie ahead; 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 Colonel Gerald R. "Jake" Betty of |
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the Texas State Guard on attaining the rank of brigadier general and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Colonel Betty as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Flynn |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2677 was adopted by the House on May |
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24, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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