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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Bill O'Neal was named 2014 Citizen of the Year at the |
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69th Annual Panola County Chamber of Commerce membership banquet |
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held on February 19, 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan taught history at Panola College |
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for close to four decades; his lessons are fondly remembered by |
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countless former students, some of whom were the second generation |
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in their families to take his classes; in recognition of his |
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outstanding contributions to the college, a new dormitory has been |
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named in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. O'Neal has immersed himself in the history of |
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Texas and has penned over 40 books in that field; his knowledge of |
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and passion for the subject led to his appointment as State |
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Historian of Texas in 2012, and in 2014, he became the first person |
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to be named to a second term in that position; as the ambassador for |
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Texas history, he has traveled extensively to extol the rich |
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heritage of the Lone Star State, addressing classrooms of children |
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as well as teachers, civic groups, and historical clubs; and |
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WHEREAS, Along the way, Bill O'Neal has remained deeply |
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rooted in the county he calls home; he is an active member of |
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Central Baptist Church in Carthage, where he volunteers as church |
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historian and as a Sunday school leader, and he has served as chair |
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of the building committee; he has also served on the board of Panola |
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General Hospital, and he is a current board member for the local |
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branch of Hochheim Prairie Insurance; and |
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WHEREAS, A former broadcaster for KGAS Radio, Mr. O'Neal |
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continues to appear as a guest on the station's Panola Pride show; |
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for more than 30 years, he was the "Voice of the Panola Ponies," and |
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he has broadcast events for numerous other teams in the area, in |
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addition to serving as a founding member of several local |
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children's sports leagues; and |
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WHEREAS, Bill O'Neal's public-spirited contributions are an |
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inspiration to all who know him, and with his receipt of this |
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well-deserved honor, he may indeed reflect with pride on the many |
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ways that he has enriched the lives of fellow Texans near and far; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Bill O'Neal on his selection as the |
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2014 Citizen of the Year by the Panola County Chamber of Commerce |
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and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. O'Neal as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Paddie |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2284 was adopted by the House on May |
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21, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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