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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a celebrated entrepreneur |
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with the passing of Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim of Pittsburg on July 21, |
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2017, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Pine on May 8, 1928, Bo Pilgrim was the son |
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of Alonzo Monroe Pilgrim and Gertrude Gunn Pilgrim; his father died |
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when he was a boy, and he went to live with his paternal |
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grandmother; after working as a farmhand and performing other |
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manual labor, he accepted an offer to partner with an older brother, |
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Aubrey, in ownership of a feed store; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pilgrim served his country in the United States |
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Army, and while stationed in California, he was impressed by its |
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enormous feed operations; on his return to Texas, he guided |
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investment in larger facilities, and the Pilgrim family company |
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expanded into chicken products and became a major egg producer; he |
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took charge of Pilgrim's Pride following the death of his brother in |
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1966, and while continuing to expand the business, he directed |
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innovative efforts to make its products leaner and healthier; a |
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savvy marketer, he gained national recognition by appearing in |
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commercials, sporting a pilgrim's buckled hat; the company became |
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one of the area's largest employers and one of the world's foremost |
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poultry producers; he retired in 2010, having spent more than four |
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decades building a company that today employs 35,000; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly engaged in the civic sphere, Mr. Pilgrim |
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worked at the state level to promote a positive business |
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environment, and his dedication to East Texas was reflected in his |
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founding of Pilgrim Bank, which he continued to serve as chair |
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emeritus until his death; a man of deep faith, he was a congregant |
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at First Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday school for many |
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years, and he spread the gospel widely by handing out religious |
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tracts; moreover, he established Marketplace Ministries, a |
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workplace outreach, created Witness Park as a place of prayer and |
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fellowship in the center of Pittsburg, and supported the completion |
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of Pilgrim Plaza, a one-acre site for contemplation and community |
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gatherings; his bountiful philanthropic giving made a positive |
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difference in countless lives; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pilgrim shared a fulfilling marriage of 61 years |
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with his wife, Patty R. Pilgrim; he was the devoted father of three |
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children, Ken, Pat, and Greta, and his family also included his |
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grandchildren, Clayton, Jake, and Lonnie Pilgrim, Greta Gail |
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Simpson, Chesley Hindman, and Shelby Owens, and his |
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great-grandchildren, Kate, Emily, and Gracie Hindman; and |
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WHEREAS, Although his vision, work ethic, and business |
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expertise brought him tremendous professional success, Bo Pilgrim |
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placed the highest value on family, faith, and community, and those |
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who were privileged to know him will continue to find inspiration in |
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his example of generosity and humble appreciation for his |
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blessings; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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Bo Pilgrim and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; 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 Lonnie "Bo" |
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Pilgrim. |