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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas A&M University alumnus John Ball is embarking |
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on a unique adventure and raising money for a good cause by walking |
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coast-to-coast across the nation during the spring and summer of |
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2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Calling himself the "Walking Aggie," this hardy |
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58-year-old pilot from San Antonio plans to walk 2,673 miles from |
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California to Florida in 170 days, arriving in Daytona Beach on |
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August 17; in addition to taking on an arduous challenge, he is also |
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raising money for the Walking Aggie Endowed Ring Scholarship, which |
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will help Texas A&M students of limited means buy the coveted but |
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expensive Aggie Ring, which A&M students who have earned 90 credit |
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hours are eligible to wear; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Ball began his journey on the beach in La Jolla, |
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California, on March 1, 2015, and unlike many other cross-country |
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walkers, he is traveling alone without a support vehicle, carrying |
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everything he needs in a backpack and staying in motels, in his |
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tent, or with Aggie families or other people he meets along the way; |
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supporters and fellow Aggies can follow his progress by reading his |
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daily posts and viewing photographs on the Walking Aggie website; |
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he is also carrying a GPS device, which allows visitors to the |
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website to track his position moment by moment, in real time; and |
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WHEREAS, A 1978 graduate of Texas A&M, Mr. Ball spent 26 |
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years in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a C-5 Galaxy transport pilot |
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in Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, as well as |
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completing a two-year stint piloting Air Force Two for vice |
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presidents Al Gore and Dick Cheney; he retired from the air force in |
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2006 at the rank of colonel, and in civilian life, he continues to |
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serve his nation by training air force C-5 pilots in San Antonio; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, By undertaking this rigorous test of endurance, |
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determination, and shoe leather, Mr. Ball is simultaneously |
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helping students of his beloved alma mater and making himself a |
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source of pride and inspiration for Aggies everywhere; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend John Ball on his ambitious endeavor to |
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create the Walking Aggie Endowed Ring Scholarship and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for good weather, safe travels, and great |
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success in his undertaking; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Ball as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |