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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Galveston community has lost a distinguished |
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civic leader with the passing of George Frederick Black on July 30, |
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2017, at the age of 70; and |
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WHEREAS, George Black was born on Galveston Island on June |
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30, 1947, to Peter Paul and Marcelle Gangl, and he was adopted at |
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birth by Ellis Julian and Alvenia Augusta Schmiech Black; he |
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graduated from Ball High School and attended Alvin Junior College |
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and Texas A&M University; and |
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WHEREAS, After beginning his career as a computer programmer |
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at First Hutchings-Sealy National Bank and American National |
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Insurance Company, Mr. Black went on to purchase several apartment |
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complexes, a Baskin-Robbins franchise, and a corner grocery store; |
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he later helped found the Robert Shields and Associates information |
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technology staffing firm, and after Mr. Shields died, Mr. Black |
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took over the business, expanding it into a new company, 3coast, |
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which he served as president and CEO until his death; and |
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WHEREAS, A proud lifelong resident of the island, Mr. Black |
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gave generously of his time and talents to his beloved community; |
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active in the Jaycees for 18 years, he served as a Jaycee |
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International Senator and won recognition as Most Outstanding Local |
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President in 1976; he was also president of the Kiwanis Club, a 32nd |
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degree Mason, and a member of the Galveston Scottish Rite; he served |
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on the City of Galveston's Charter Review Committee and on the |
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President's Cabinet and Institutional Audit Committee of The |
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University of Texas Medical Branch, and he was vice president of the |
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Community Arts Council and a 13-year member of the Galveston |
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College Board of Regents; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Black took particular pleasure in his 20-year |
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association with the Galveston Mardi Gras; he served as krewe |
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captain and King of Gambrinus in the Krewe of Gambrinus and as |
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marshal of the Krewe of Munchkins Parade and of the inaugural |
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Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade; his extensive contributions to |
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the festival were recognized with the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras |
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Award in 2014; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Black was also a longtime leader in the Boy |
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Scouts of America, first as scoutmaster of his son's troop and then |
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as Island District chairman, member of the Bay Area Council, |
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Assistant National Boy Scout Jamboree Master, and Philmont Trek |
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Master; he earned one of scouting's highest honors, the Silver |
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Beaver Award, from the Bay Area Council; and |
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WHEREAS, Imbued with a strong religious faith, Mr. Black was |
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an active member of First Lutheran Church, where he played a vital |
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role in the congregation's annual Island Oktoberfest as general |
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chair and as chair for entertainment and sponsorships; he also |
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assisted with the church's capital campaigns, served as a trustee |
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for the endowment fund and as president of the vestry, and helped |
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establish the Fanfare! Lutheran Music Academy for underprivileged |
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young people; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Black was the devoted husband of Sherry Black, |
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his wife of more than 46 years, and the proud father of a son, |
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Joshua; as an adult, he sought out his birth family and discovered |
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that he had two brothers, Donal Gangl and David Baker, and two |
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sisters, Judy Kiker and Paula Yetter; he delighted in the time he |
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spent hunting and fishing with family and friends, and he and his |
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wife enjoyed traveling, especially to Australia, Mexico, Turkey, |
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Hawaii, and Canada; he held season tickets to the Houston Astros and |
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the Houston Texans, which he generously shared with his friends and |
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with local charities; and |
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WHEREAS, For most of his life, George Black wore a ring that |
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read BOI, for "Born on the Island"; the memory of his boundless |
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devotion to his community and his tireless efforts in its behalf |
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will forever illuminate the hearts of all who knew and loved him; |
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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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George Frederick Black and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members |
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of his family and to all those who mourn his passing; 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of George |
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Frederick Black. |