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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 914
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In Memory |
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of |
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William B. Wilkerson |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the |
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citizens of Austin in mourning the loss of William B. Wilkerson, |
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who died April 30, 2015, at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, Bill Wilkerson was born April 12, 1929, to James |
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and Alma Wilkerson; he became a second-generation newspaperman |
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at the young age of eight by serving as a printer's devil at the |
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Comanche Chief, where his father was publisher and owner; and |
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WHEREAS, He met Judith Blanton while a student at The |
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University of Texas at Austin, and they married in 1950; he |
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graduated the following year and joined the United States Air |
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Force, and he served with distinction at Floyd Bennett Field in |
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New York during the Korean Conflict; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wilkerson returned to Texas and served as |
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editor of the Comanche Chief for 18 years; in 1974, he and his |
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wife bought the Pleasanton Express, and under his watchful eye, |
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the paper became an award-winning publication; the couple |
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remained on as owners and publishers of the paper when they moved |
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to Austin in 1989; and |
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WHEREAS, Distinguished leaders in the newspaper business, |
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Mr. and Mrs. Wilkerson were the youngest members to join the |
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South Texas Press Association and over time, they became the |
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oldest couple to attend its conventions; Mr. Wilkerson also |
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served as a board member of the Texas Press Association for many |
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years; in Austin, he immersed himself in the local culture and |
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was an avid Longhorn fan; and |
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WHEREAS, Bill Wilkerson had a larger-than-life personality |
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and was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; he |
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was devoted to his wife and was known for his boundless |
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generosity and he will long be remembered with affection and |
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admiration by all who were privileged to share in his life; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of William B. Wilkerson; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Bill Wilkerson. |
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Watson |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 20, 2015, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |