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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 21
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In Memory |
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of |
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Charles Winters Wilson |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Charles "Hong Kong" Winters Wilson, who |
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died January 11, 2013, at the age of 91; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wilson was a global force in the fields of |
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military and commercial aviation; he was born to fly, it seems, |
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and his contributions while navigating the wild blue yonder were |
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many; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wilson was born June 9, 1921, in Dublin, |
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Texas; early in his life, he knew he wanted to be a pilot, and the |
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fastest route to flight school was through the Royal Canadian Air |
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Force, which he joined at age 19; and |
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WHEREAS, The attack on Pearl Harbor prompted him to enlist in |
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the United States Army Air Corps; he became a command pilot of the |
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B-17 Flying Fortress and flew 28 combat missions with the legendary |
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100th Bomb Group, 350th Squadron; after combat, he participated in |
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Operation Chowhound, an aerial food relief effort over Holland, and |
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he was among the pilots who retrieved French prisoners of war from |
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Austria and returned them to Paris; and |
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WHEREAS, After World War II, Mr. Wilson joined Philippine |
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Airlines in Manila; while based in the island capital, he met and |
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married Consuelo Taylor, a flight attendant who would become his |
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lifelong love; the couple enjoyed 65 years of marriage and raised |
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four children; and |
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WHEREAS, His illustrious commercial career included his |
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piloting of the first eastbound DC6 revenue flight across the |
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Pacific Ocean and a three-year stint with Ethiopia Airlines; |
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later, he returned stateside and flew for Transco Company in |
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Houston; during his career above the clouds, Hong Kong Wilson |
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flew several noteworthy aircraft, including the Tiger Moth and |
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the Falcon Jet; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of courage, strength, and compassion, he |
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gave generously to others, and he leaves behind memories that |
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will be cherished forever by his family and countless friends; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Charles Winters Wilson; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the members of his family as an expression of high esteem from the |
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Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so |
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in memory of Charles Wilson. |
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Fraser, Taylor |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on January 23, 2013, by |
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a rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |