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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends will long cherish their memories |
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of James Henderson Strain of Abilene, who passed away on December |
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22, 2013, at the age of 83; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to James H. and Victoria Strain in Odessa on |
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November 26, 1930, James Strain grew up in Haskell with his two |
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younger siblings, Ernest and Doris, and became an Eagle Scout |
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during his youth; he graduated from Haskell High School in 1948 and |
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went on to earn a degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M |
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University in 1952; as a member of the U.S. Army, he ably served his |
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country as a survey officer with the 7th Infantry Division during |
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the Korean War; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Strain played an important role in developing |
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the J. H. Strain and Sons highway construction company, which had |
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been founded by his father, and he helped guide its successful |
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operations for many years; respected by his colleagues in the |
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industry, he held such leadership positions as southwestern states |
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representative on the National Asphalt Pavement Association board, |
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president of the highway branch of the Associated General |
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Contractors of Texas, and president of the Texas Hot Mix |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, A prominent member of his community, Mr. Strain |
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served as president of Dixie Little League, as a director of the |
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Abilene Better Business Bureau, and as a member of the board of |
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Citizens National Bank of Abilene; in addition, he was a founding |
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member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and chaired its |
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administrative board; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Strain and his wife, the former Carolyn Henshaw, |
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were married on May 30, 1952, beginning a richly rewarding marriage |
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that spanned more than six decades; the couple became the proud |
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parents of a daughter, Jayne, and two sons, Steve and Kent, and they |
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were further blessed as their family grew to include five |
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grandchildren, Alexis, Court, Ross, Whit, and Kaitlyn; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and an accomplished business |
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and civic leader, James Strain will be deeply missed, but the |
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integrity, courage, and abiding sense of humor with which he lived |
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his life will forever inspire all who had the good fortune to know |
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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 pay tribute to the life of James Henderson |
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Strain and extend sincere sympathy to those who mourn his passing; |
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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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James |
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Henderson Strain. |