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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the |
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passing of James Oscar Dear of Mineola on January 28, 2014, at the |
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age of 97; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on May 15, 1916, to Sam and Nancy Dear, James |
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Dear graduated from Mineola High School and was subsequently |
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drafted into the United States Army during World War II; a code |
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interceptor for the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces intelligence |
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service, he earned the Meritorious Achievement Award for helping |
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destroy a group of German bombers targeting a convoy of ships in the |
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Mediterranean Sea, and he was additionally awarded two Bronze Star |
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Medals; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dear began working at a cinema at the age of 12 |
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and quickly developed a passion for movies, and during the war, he |
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entertained his fellow soldiers by screening films; after returning |
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to civilian life, he and his friend Truman Thomas became the owners |
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and operators of the Select Theater in Mineola; a popular town |
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hangout, the business thrived for many decades and was donated to |
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the Lake Country Playhouse following the retirement of its |
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proprietors; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to his community, Mr. Dear was highly |
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regarded for his extensive knowledge of local history, and he was |
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actively involved with the Meredith Foundation, which he served as |
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chair for a quarter-century, and the Mineola Chamber of Commerce; |
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he was also a cofounder of the Mineola Hay and Junior Livestock |
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Shows and a valued congregant of First United Methodist Church, |
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where he was a Sunday school teacher and a member of numerous |
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committees; receiving well-deserved recognition for his civic |
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leadership, he was presented with the Paul Harris Fellow Award by |
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the Rotary Foundation and the Mineola Man of the Year Award by the |
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chamber of commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dear shared a fulfilling marriage with his wife, |
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Frances Dear, who preceded him in death; the couple became the |
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parents of a daughter, Martha, and their family later grew to |
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include two granddaughters, Nicole and Savannah, and a |
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great-grandson, Colt; and |
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WHEREAS, Those fortunate enough to have known James Dear will |
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remember the way he touched their lives with his kindness and |
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generosity, and he will forever hold a treasured place in their |
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hearts; 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 Oscar Dear and |
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extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House |
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of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James |
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Dear. |