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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Chantal Bencze has taught French at St. Thomas |
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Episcopal School in Houston for 53 years, and it is indeed fitting |
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to recognize her and honor her for her remarkable career; and |
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WHEREAS, A native speaker of French, Mrs. Bencze was hired in |
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1963 by the school's founder, the Reverend T. Robert Ingram; the |
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position has suited her ideally, as she is a strong proponent of a |
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faith-based, classical education, and she enjoys introducing her |
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students to the wonders and complexities of her mother tongue; she |
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ensures that her students are well versed not only in correct |
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grammar but also in good manners; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Bencze was born in Limoges, France, in 1934, to |
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Dr. Jean Dufour and Denise Dufour; she grew up as one of 10 children |
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and was educated in parochial schools; during the Nazi occupation, |
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her parents helped their Jewish compatriots, and she and her |
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siblings found small ways to show defiance to enemy soldiers; and |
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WHEREAS, At the age of 19, while on vacation in England, she |
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met an American soldier, Richard Gay, and they married and moved to |
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Miami before settling in Houston; she later married Stephen Bencze; |
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her family has grown through the years to include 6 children, 18 |
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grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren, and she maintains close |
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ties to her many relatives in France; in her free time, she is an |
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avid reader of histories and literary classics; and |
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WHEREAS, Few teachers can claim a career spanning more than a |
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half century, and through her enduring commitment to education, |
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Chantal Bencze continues to make a positive difference in the lives |
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of young Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Chantal Bencze for her 53-year career at |
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St. Thomas Episcopal School and extend to her sincere best wishes |
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for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mrs. Bencze as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |