| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Don F. Essary, a longtime coach and administrator in |
|
|
the Ennis and Mansfield Independent School Districts, passed away |
|
|
on February 1, 2015, at the age of 80, leaving his family and |
|
|
friends to reflect on a life that was rich in meaningful |
|
|
accomplishments; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Don Essary was born in Bonham on September 1, 1934, |
|
|
to Douglas and Lucille Essary; he graduated from Ennis High School |
|
|
in 1953, and he went on to attend Hardin-Simmons University and East |
|
|
Texas State University, earning an undergraduate degree in |
|
|
education and biology; he also completed his master's degree in |
|
|
education and later studied for a doctorate in administration; |
|
|
answering his nation's call to duty as well, he served overseas as a |
|
|
member of the U.S. Army; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, While stationed in France, Mr. Essary met his future |
|
|
wife, Louisette Tachdjian, whom he married in 1956; over the course |
|
|
of their nearly six decades together, the couple became the parents |
|
|
of two children, Brigitte and Thierry, and they later watched their |
|
|
family grow to include five grandchildren and three |
|
|
great-grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan served as a coach and educator |
|
|
in Ennis ISD for 15 years; as athletic director and head coach of |
|
|
the Ennis High School football team, he helped lead the Lions to the |
|
|
school's first state championship in 1975; Ennis defeated the |
|
|
two-time defending state champs from Cuero High School to win the 3A |
|
|
title, snapping Cuero's nation-leading 44-game winning streak in |
|
|
the process; after leaving Ennis, Mr. Essary coached and taught in |
|
|
the Mansfield Independent School District from 1990 to 1998; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A respected member of his community, Mr. Essary was |
|
|
a valued congregant of Tabernacle Baptist Church, and he also gave |
|
|
generously of his time and talents to benefit the local Optimist and |
|
|
Lions Clubs in Ennis; in his leisure time, he enjoyed golfing and |
|
|
spending time with his loved ones; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Don Essary lived a full and generous life centered |
|
|
around his family, his community, and his profession, and he will |
|
|
long be remembered with deep affection by all those who were |
|
|
privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Don F. Essary and |
|
|
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
|
|
wife, Louisette Essary; to his daughter, Brigitte McElroy, and her |
|
|
husband, Eddie; to his daughter-in-law, Debbie Newton; to his |
|
|
grandchildren, Mark, Kallie, and Kara Essary, Brooke Dixon and her |
|
|
husband, Dustin, and Ryan McElroy and his wife, Kathryn; to his |
|
|
great-grandchildren, Hannah, Adelyn, and Emmersyn Dixon; to his |
|
|
brother, Glynn Essary; and to his other relatives and friends; and, |
|
|
be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Don F. |
|
|
Essary. |