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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly |
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cause for celebration, and Alwana Vaughan of Graham is marking this |
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significant milestone in her life on February 26, 2015, to the |
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delight of her many admirers; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in 1915, the former Alwana Wood is the daughter |
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of John Henderson Wood, a Young County pioneer who operated the |
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first brick factory in Graham; her mother was a piano teacher, and |
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she demonstrated musical talent at an early age and began |
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performing; over the years, she sang on the radio, won a Charleston |
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contest, and conducted the Graham Toy Symphony Band, among other |
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accomplishments; and |
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WHEREAS, She was joined in matrimony to Alfred Lilburn |
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Vaughan in Altus, Oklahoma, in 1935, and they settled in Graham in |
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the early 1950s; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship for 58 |
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years until Mr. Vaughan's passing in 1993; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Vaughan joined the faculty of Graham High |
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School, and she taught piano and voice to countless local residents |
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during a career that spanned many decades; even after her |
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retirement from the school in 1976, she continued to serve as an |
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advisor to the theater program and its students; she has graced the |
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stage at innumerable events, and in May 2012, the Graham Leader |
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reported that she stole the show as a presenter at the Graham High |
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School Scholarship Ceremony; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to her community, Mrs. Vaughan was |
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a charter member of the Graham Hospital Auxiliary and the Graham |
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Concert Association, and she has belonged to the Daughters of the |
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American Revolution for 60 years; she has also given generously of |
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her time and talents to the Rotary Club, the Rotary Follies, Graham |
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Regional Theatre, and the Graham Concert Series; named Citizen of |
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the Year, she was recognized twice by the Graham Chamber of Commerce |
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for her contributions, and in January 2015, the city council |
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approved plans to create a small park in her honor next to Graham |
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Memorial Auditorium; and |
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WHEREAS, Alwana Vaughan has earned a special place in the |
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hearts of her fellow citizens, and it is truly a pleasure to honor |
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her for having joined an elite group of Texans who can look back on |
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100 years of meaningful achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Alwana Vaughan on the occasion of |
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her 100th birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for |
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continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mrs. Vaughan as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |