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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Henry S. Brown of San Antonio, a legendary figure in |
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the Texas labor movement, passed away on January 21, 2015, at the |
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age of 94, after a lifetime of distinguished achievement in behalf |
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of his fellow man; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on October 24, 1920, to Stan and Sophia Brown of |
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "Hank" Brown fought for the values in |
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which he believed from an early age, leaving home to serve his |
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country as a member of the U.S. Army; he subsequently moved to San |
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Antonio, where he first became involved in a union as a plumber's |
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helper and then business agent with Local 142; and |
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WHEREAS, Driven by a concern for all working men and women, |
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Mr. Brown went on to join the Texas AFL-CIO and was named the |
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organization's president in 1961; a masterful orator and fierce |
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negotiator, he advocated for civil rights, helped craft an |
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important worker's compensation law for Texas, established the |
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Women's Activities Department, and created the United Labor |
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Legislative Committee; during his decade-long tenure as AFL-CIO |
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president, he also served on boards as an appointee of Presidents |
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John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; and |
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WHEREAS, He left his position with the AFL-CIO to become the |
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vice president of public relations for the American Income Life |
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Insurance Company, but he remained extraordinarily active in labor |
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relations well into his nineties, promoting retiree councils, |
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inspiring others with his moving speeches, and participating in |
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AFL-CIO conventions; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Brown enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, the former Sophie Wegmann, with whom he |
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shared a rewarding marriage that spanned 70 years; the couple were |
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the proud parents of two sons, Henry and Gerald, and a daughter, |
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Sophie; and |
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WHEREAS, An unswerving leader, Hank Brown worked tirelessly |
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throughout his life to advance the cause of the Texas AFL-CIO and |
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the labor movement, and his contributions to aid working families |
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will continue to benefit residents of the Lone Star State for many |
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years to come; 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 memory of Hank Brown and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his sons, |
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Henry Brown Jr. and his wife, Judy, and Gerald Brown and his wife, |
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Merrilou; to his daughter, Sophie McCoy, and her husband, James; to |
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his brother, Ray Brown; to his 10 grandchildren and 15 |
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great-grandchildren; to his nieces and nephews; and to his other |
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relatives and many friends; 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 Henry S. |
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Brown. |