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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 Dr. Charles B. Runnels on October 25, 2016, at the age of |
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91; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on July 30, 1925, Dr. Runnels was raised in |
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Texas; he enrolled at Stephen F. Austin University at the age of 16 |
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and went on to receive his bachelor's degree from that institution; |
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answering his nation's call to duty, he served in the United States |
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Navy for four years, including one year with the Navy Air Corps in |
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the Asian theater of World War II; he completed law school at the |
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University of Houston in 1956 and then went to work for Tenneco; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1967, Dr. Runnels joined the site selection |
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committee for Pepperdine University, then known as George |
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Pepperdine College; the two-year assignment turned into a lifelong |
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career with the California-based school, which included more than |
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two decades as chancellor; his responsibilities included service as |
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the university's chief fund-raiser, and he coordinated successful |
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campaigns that brought in hundreds of millions of dollars in |
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contributions; he also founded the Youth Citizenship Seminar that |
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annually brought high school students to the campus to explore such |
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subjects as leadership, faith, and free enterprise; he was named |
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chancellor emeritus of Pepperdine in 2006, and he continued to be |
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involved with the university's board in the years that followed; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his long-standing efforts in |
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behalf of Pepperdine, Dr. Runnels was honored in 2010 with the |
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dedication of the university's athletic complex as the Charles B. |
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Runnels Sports and Recreation Village, and he also received an |
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honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university's Seaver |
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College; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, Dr. Runnels was a lifelong |
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member of the Churches of Christ, and he played an active role at |
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Culver Palms Church of Christ, where he was an elder; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Runnels was blessed with |
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the love and support of his wife, Amy Jo; he was a proud father of |
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three sons, Duke Runnels, Tyler Runnels, and the late Raleigh |
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Runnels, and a daughter, Susan Runnels Plumb, and he later saw his |
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family grow to include six grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to helping young people develop into |
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productive citizens, Dr. Charles B. Runnels made a positive |
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difference in many lives, and his dedication to education and his |
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unwavering faith will continue to inspire those who had the good |
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fortune to know him; 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 Dr. Charles B. |
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Runnels and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his |
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passing; and, be 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 |
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Dr. Charles B. Runnels. |
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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. 298 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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