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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, William Burgess Crooker of Big Spring, a World War |
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II veteran and a longtime public servant, is deserving of the |
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highest commendation for his exceptional efforts in behalf of his |
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country and his fellow Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, During the Second World War, Mr. Crooker served as a |
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bombardier with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the European theater; the |
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last mission he flew took place on December 6, 1944, when he |
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participated in a bombing raid on Nazi facilities at Devinska, |
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Czechoslovakia; about 15 minutes after the crew completed its |
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mission, their plane took heavy fire, and Mr. Crooker was among |
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those who escaped by parachute, only to be seized by the enemy on |
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the ground; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Crooker was interrogated and held in solitary |
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confinement before being transferred to Stalag One, a prison camp |
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in northern Germany; the American and British airmen held there |
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were given little to eat, and they endured severe hardships before |
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the camp was liberated by Russian forces on May 1, 1945; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his return to the States, Bill Crooker |
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exchanged wedding vows with the former Joyce Glenn on August 8, |
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1945; the couple lived for a time on the East Coast, while |
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Mr. Crooker completed his bachelor's degree in economics at the |
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University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and then |
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worked for General Electric and Ortho Pharmaceutical in |
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Philadelphia; after returning to Big Spring, Mrs. Crooker's |
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hometown, Mr. Crooker was employed with Cosden for 13 years before |
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he left to establish an employment agency and a real estate company; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan was elected as Howard County |
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commissioner for Precinct 3 in 1968, and he continued to serve |
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faithfully in that role for four decades; in addition, he has given |
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generously of his time and talents in numerous other positions of |
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civic leadership; and |
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WHEREAS, An exemplary member of the Greatest Generation, Bill |
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Crooker helped to defend liberty at a time of enormous peril, and |
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his contributions to his community, his state, and his nation are a |
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source of inspiration to all who know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor William Burgess Crooker for his |
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distinguished record of service, both in war and in times of peace, |
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and commend him for his outstanding courage and dedication; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Crooker as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |