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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Nacogdoches lost an admired civic leader |
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with the death of Lucille Marie La Pointe DeWitt on October 9, 2015, |
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at the age of 90; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Killingly, Connecticut, on October 8, 1925, |
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the former Lucy La Pointe lived with the Colizzi family in |
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Charlotte, Michigan, and worked as an au pair and soda jerk while |
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completing high school; she later moved to New York City to pursue a |
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career in acting and modeling; in 1948, she married Rich DeWitt, and |
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they became the parents of five treasured children, Richard, |
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Deborah, Candace, Cindy, and Jack; she eventually knew the joy of |
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welcoming 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren into her |
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family; and |
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WHEREAS, The DeWitts moved to Waxahachie and then settled in |
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Nacogdoches in 1957 to assist with the family business, DeWitt |
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Hatcheries; in 1964, the couple opened their first KFC franchise, |
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and they eventually expanded to a total of 70 locations across the |
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state; Mrs. DeWitt became president of the company following her |
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husband's death in 2006, and with a remarkable work ethic, she |
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remained active in the business into her late 80s; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to her community, Mrs. DeWitt |
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played a key role in the establishment of the Nacogdoches County |
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Republican Women, and she served as president of the organization; |
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she was a founding member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Pink |
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Ladies and board president of the physical rehabilitation center |
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that the group helped develop; in addition, she was a member of the |
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Samaritan Center board and a charter life member of the Nacogdoches |
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Expo Center; she and her husband donated land to Stephen F. Austin |
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State University for its nursing program, and in recognition of |
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their support, the School of Nursing was named in their honor; |
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moreover, Mrs. DeWitt sponsored Nacogdoches Crime Stoppers and |
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donated funds for the restoration of a number of historic |
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buildings; in 2006, she was inducted into the Stephen F. Austin |
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Society, and among myriad accolades, she was named the 2008 Woman of |
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the Year by the American Association of University Women; and |
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WHEREAS, Lucy DeWitt made a lasting, positive impact in her |
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community through her exceptional generosity and dedication, and |
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she will forever hold a special place in the hearts of all who were |
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fortunate enough to know her; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Lucille DeWitt and |
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extend sincere condolences to her 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 her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Lucy |
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DeWitt. |
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Clardy |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 296 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on February 23, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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