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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 744
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In Memory |
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of |
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Matthew Robert Clark |
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WHEREAS, Matthew Robert Clark of Frisco lost his life in a |
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tragic accident on June 3, 2012, at the age of 21, and family and |
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friends are honoring his memory by performing simple acts of |
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kindness for others; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on January 1, 1991, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, |
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Matt Clark was the son of John and Sandra Clark and the brother of |
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Byron Clark; at the time of his passing, he was in his senior year |
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as a health science major at Baylor University and had dreams of a |
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career in the medical field; he was a graduate of Legacy |
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Christian Academy, where he belonged to the National Honor |
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Society and received a host of awards for his achievements in |
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football, basketball, baseball, and track; and |
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WHEREAS, Guided by a strong faith in his every endeavor, |
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Mr. Clark had a particular affinity for the verse Proverbs 16:3, |
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which reads, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans |
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will succeed"; he strove to be a leader and a positive example, |
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and his compassionate nature was readily apparent in his words |
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and actions; and |
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WHEREAS, In May 2011, he drove out to bring aid to the |
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victims of the tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri; on the |
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return trip, he rescued from the side of the road an abandoned |
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puppy, which he welcomed into his home and named "Joplin"; he was |
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known for brightening the days of those around him with his many |
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good deeds, such as helping a friend move, offering a lift to the |
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airport, tutoring a classmate, or simply sharing a smile or a |
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joke; and |
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WHEREAS, Inspired by the sense of purpose that this caring |
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young man demonstrated throughout his life, his family has |
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provided a list of 22 suggested acts of kindness that they are |
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asking their fellow Texans to perform during 2013 in celebration |
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of what would have been Matt's 22nd birthday: |
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1. |
Write a note to a person who could use some encouragement. |
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2. |
Say "I love you" to someone you hold dear. |
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3. |
Bring coffee or treats to an acquaintance. |
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4. |
Say "please" and "thank you" and mean it. |
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5. |
Call or write to a teacher who made a difference in your life. |
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7. |
Forgive a debt, and never bring it up again. |
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8. |
Say "I'm sorry" when you are wrong. |
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9. |
Ask someone "How are you really doing?" and genuinely listen to the response. |
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10. |
Offer to babysit for a single mom. |
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11. |
Return shopping carts for people in parking lots. |
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12. |
Smile and say "hello" to people. |
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15. |
Hold the door open for the person behind you. |
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17. |
Pay for the person behind you in line at a restaurant or coffee shop. |
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18. |
Buy a homeless person a meal. |
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19. |
Volunteer at or take towels and blankets to an animal shelter. |
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20. |
Take doughnuts to the fire station, the police station, or the office. |
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21. |
Pass along a great book that you have just finished reading. |
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22. |
Spend time at a nursing home by playing board games or conversing with residents; and |
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WHEREAS, Intended to be unexpected and unreciprocated, |
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these quiet yet meaningful gestures are seldom forgotten, and |
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through the journey of sharing them, participants are ensuring |
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that the vibrant spirit of Matt Clark will forever shine brightly |
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for those who were blessed to share in his love and friendship, |
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and many more beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Matthew Robert |
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Clark and urge all who hear of this heartfelt endeavor to seek out |
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opportunities to help and encourage friends and strangers alike. |
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Paxton |
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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 23, 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 |