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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a renowned educator and |
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distinguished leader on March 1, 2014, with the death of Dr. Barry |
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B. Thompson, chancellor emeritus of The Texas A&M University System |
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and president emeritus of Tarleton State University; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Pecos on May 12, 1936, to Tommy and Louise |
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Thompson, this native Texan was raised in Kermit, and he graduated |
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from high school there; he earned an associate's degree in science |
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from Tarleton State in 1956 and a bachelor's degree in science from |
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Texas Tech University in 1958 before he began teaching in Andrews; |
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by age 25, he was a high school principal in the Dalhart Independent |
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School District, and he subsequently served as superintendent of |
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Post ISD and as assistant superintendent for Waco ISD; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Thompson received his master's degree from |
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Texas A&M University--Commerce and his doctoral degree from Texas |
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A&M University and began his career in higher education as a |
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professor at The University of Texas--Pan American; he held several |
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administrative positions at Texas A&M University--Commerce before |
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being appointed president of Tarleton State University in 1982; he |
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went on to serve West Texas A&M University as president, and his |
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leadership at both institutions was characterized by an emphasis on |
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increased funding and on increased enrollment, especially among |
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minority students; and |
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WHEREAS, Named chancellor of The Texas A&M University System |
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in 1994, Dr. Thompson combined system resources to form The Texas |
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A&M University System Health Science Center, and he worked to |
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develop strong partnerships between universities and the public |
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school system; he retired in 1999 but continued to teach doctoral |
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courses at Texas A&M University--Commerce and Tarleton State |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Thompson was dedicated to civic as well as |
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professional organizations, and he was recognized with the 1996 |
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Golden Deeds for Education award from the Texas Association of |
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School Administrators, the 1999 Mirabeau B. Lamar Medal for |
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outstanding leadership in higher education, and the 1999 Boy Scouts |
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of America Silver Beaver Award for his longtime service to the Boy |
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Scouts; additionally, the Barry B. Thompson Student Center on the |
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Tarleton State University campus was dedicated in his honor in |
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1996, and the Dr. Barry B. and Sandra Thompson scholarship fund was |
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established at that school; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Thompson enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, the former Sandra Sue Davison, whom he |
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married in 1955; he took great pride in their children, Karol, Kim, |
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Scott, and Bart, as well as in their seven grandchildren and four |
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great-grandchildren; a man of faith, he was a valued member of the |
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United Methodist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, The loss of Barry Thompson is keenly felt by the |
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numerous individuals he mentored through the years and by many |
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others whose lives he enriched, but his legacy of achievement and |
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service will continue to benefit this state for years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Barry B. Thompson and extend |
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sincere condolences to his family: to his wife, Sandra Thompson; to |
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his daughters, Karol Wallace and Kim Fimbel and her husband, |
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Robert; to his sons, Scott Thompson and Bart Thompson and his wife, |
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Marie; to his grandchildren, Kate York and her husband, Drew, Sarah |
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Meyers and her husband, Tim, Andrew Fimbel and his wife, Chelsea, |
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Jill Wallace, and Rachel, Julia, and Kittie Thompson; to his |
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great-grandchildren, Emily and Reid York, Ella Meyers, and Riley |
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Fimbel; to his brother, Dan Thompson; and to his other relatives and |
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friends; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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Dr. Barry B. Thompson. |
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Sheffield |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 33 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 12, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 33 was adopted by the Senate on |
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March 18, 2015, by a viva-voce vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |