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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to the service of his nation and his |
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community drew to a close with the death of former Hopkins County |
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sheriff Billy G. Dirks on March 27, 2015, at the age of 81; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on January 12, 1934, to Dillard and Edna Dirks, |
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Billy Dirks grew up in Lamar County; he joined the United States Air |
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Force and then the army, serving in both the Korean and the Vietnam |
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Wars and earning the Bronze Star, among many other commendations; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dirks retired after 27 years of service to his |
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nation and moved to Sulphur Springs; he was hired by the Hopkins |
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County Sheriff's Office in the early 1980s, beginning an exemplary |
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tenure with the department that spanned 16 years; named chief |
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deputy in 1988, he was appointed sheriff two years later and was |
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elected to a full term in 1992, earning the distinction of being the |
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county's first African American sheriff; he subsequently worked as |
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the director of the alternative school at the North Hopkins County |
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School; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of deep religious faith, Mr. Dirks was a |
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longtime member of the MLK Church of Christ; in all his endeavors, |
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he enjoyed the love and support of his wife, the former Delores |
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White, his children, Gia, Tracie, and Derek, and his five |
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grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man, an outstanding public servant, |
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and an inspiring mentor, Billy Dirks earned the admiration of all |
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who knew him, and he leaves behind a record of service that his |
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loved ones can remember with pride; 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 Billy G. Dirks and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Delores Dirks; to his children, Gia Pleasant and her husband, |
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Charles, Tracie Rand and her husband, Tony, and Derek Dirks; to his |
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five grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be |
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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 Billy |
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G. Dirks. |