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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 606
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In Memory |
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of |
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James Bryan Killebrew |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of James Bryan Killebrew, who died March 4, |
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2013, at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Killebrew was born February 2, 1927, in Paris, |
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Texas; he was a 1943 graduate of Paris High School, and he |
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attended Paris Junior College and Texas A&M University before |
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volunteering for the United States Army Air Corps Aviation Cadets |
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in 1946; he remained on active duty through 1948 and then |
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attended the University of Houston, where he earned a degree in |
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industrial engineering; and |
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WHEREAS, He reentered active military service in 1951 as a |
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member of the United States Air Force, and upon completion of his |
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pilot training, he flew missions in Japan and Korea; in 1958, he |
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returned to Texas A&M University, where he served as a Reserve |
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Officers' Training Corps instructor and completed his master's |
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degree; after leaving the university, he took part in |
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high-altitude reconnaissance missions and then flew 104 missions |
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over North Vietnam in the course of two tours of duty; and |
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WHEREAS, After his service in Vietnam, he held a number of |
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command positions before ending his military career as deputy |
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commander of the 26th Tactical Air Command Reconnaissance Wing in |
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Zweibrucken, Germany; he retired with the rank of colonel after |
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more than 27 years of service to the nation; among his many awards |
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and citations were the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of |
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Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal with 10 oak leaf |
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clusters; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement in 1978 from military |
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service, Mr. Killebrew served in various roles for several |
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companies and then embarked on a long and highly successful |
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career in real estate, from which he retired in 2000; he was |
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active in community affairs and served as president of the |
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Arlington Kiwanis Club and the Senior Men's Club; and |
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WHEREAS, A standout tennis player from a young age, he was |
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a star player at Paris High School and earned a letter in tennis |
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at Texas A&M University; he also won numerous tournaments during |
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his military career, including the singles championship in the |
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Pacific Olympics and both the singles and doubles titles in the |
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United States Forces Europe Tennis Championships; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a steadfast Aggie and a life member of the |
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Texas A&M Letterman's Club; in 2012, he became a legacy member of |
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the Memorial Student Center, where his name is permanently |
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displayed in the Flag Room; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of courage, strength, and honor, he gave |
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unselfishly to others, and his warm smile, his charming sense of |
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humor, and his enthusiasm for living each day to the fullest will |
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not be forgotten; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and |
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grandfather, and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured |
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forever by his family and many friends; 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 James Bryan Killebrew; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of James Killebrew. |
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Davis |
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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 April 4, 2013, by a |
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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 |