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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Emma Bass of Leon County has long exemplified civic |
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engagement at its finest, and her exceptional record of community |
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service is a continuing source of inspiration to all who know her; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born Emma Lou Blasingame in Houston on October 9, |
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1936, Mrs. Bass moved to Robbins at the age of seven; she gained |
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experience in the newspaper industry working for four years with |
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the Leon County News, and she subsequently established the |
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Centerville News, whose first issue came off the press on April 23, |
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1980; the paper became a community institution, and she continued |
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to publish it until her retirement in December 2014; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Mrs. Bass has also contributed |
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immeasurably to a host of organizations that have benefited the |
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lives of area citizens; she is a cofounder of the Centerville |
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Chamber of Commerce and the Leon County Economic Development |
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Association, both of which she has served as a director and as |
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president, and she is also a cofounder of the Elmer P. and Jewel |
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Ward Memorial Library, whose board she has served as vice |
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president; in addition, she has been a representative to the Brazos |
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Valley Council of Governments, has helped to organize and lead such |
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groups as the Friends of Fort Boggy State Park and the Leon County |
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Opera, and has rendered extensive service to the Leon County Fourth |
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of July Funtier Days celebration as a director and committee |
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member; moreover, she has been a staunch supporter of 4-H, FFA, and |
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many other school organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of all she has done to promote worthy |
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causes in her county, Mrs. Bass has twice been named Woman of the |
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Year by the Centerville chamber, which has also conferred on her its |
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Citizen of the Year Award, Past President's Award, Pioneer Award, |
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and Most Special Award; this esteemed Texan is the recipient of |
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myriad other honors as well, including the Community Builder Award |
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from the Centerville Masonic Lodge and citations from the Leon |
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County Genealogical Society, Leon County Retired Teachers |
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Association, and East Texas Mounted Search and Rescue; in 2014, she |
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served as grand marshal of the Funtier Days Parade; and |
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WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Mrs. Bass enjoyed the love and |
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support of her husband of 57 years, Walter Terrell Bass, who passed |
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away in 2009; she takes pride in a fine family that includes her |
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son, Walter Lee Bass, and his wife, Geneva, as well as two |
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granddaughters and several great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Those Texans who give freely of their time and |
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talents to benefit the larger community make the world a better |
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place through their actions and their example, and Emma Bass of Leon |
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County is indeed one such person; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Emma Bass for her many years of service |
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to the city of Centerville and to Leon County and extend to her |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mrs. Bass as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |