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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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death of Don Wyatt Rader of Canadian, Texas, on January 14, 2016, at |
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the age of 91; and |
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WHEREAS, Don Rader was born in Shattuck, Oklahoma, on June 1, |
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1924, to Ernest Justin and Bonnie Harris Rader; born into a ranching |
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family, he graduated from Shattuck High School in 1942 and enrolled |
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in Oklahoma State University; and |
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WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty during World War |
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II, Mr. Rader interrupted his studies to enlist in the U.S. Army in |
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1943, and as a rifleman with K Company, 393rd Infantry, 99th |
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Infantry Division, he saw combat in Normandy, the Ardennes, and the |
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Rhineland; he was seriously wounded in March 1945 and earned a |
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Purple Heart; and |
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WHEREAS, After recuperating in the hospital at Fort Sam |
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Houston and returning to civilian life, Mr. Rader earned his |
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bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from OSU in May 1948; |
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that same month, he married Mary Esther Gerard, and the couple |
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returned to Shattuck, Oklahoma, to ranch; in 1960, they moved to |
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Lipscomb County, where Mr. Rader raised Polled Hereford cattle for |
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more than six decades; over the course of Mr. and Mrs. Rader's 68 |
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years together, they were blessed with six children, Don, Steve, |
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Cathie, Judy, Nancy, and Betsy; many of their children and |
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grandchildren have carried on the family tradition of ranching and |
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farming in the Panhandle; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rader was active in his community as a director |
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of the Lipscomb County Soil and Water Conservation District and as a |
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member of the Rotary Club; he was also a valued congregant of First |
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United Methodist Church of Canadian; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, his community, and the proud |
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tradition of ranching, Don Rader leaves behind a legacy of hard |
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work, service to others, and a love for the land that will continue |
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to inspire all those who had the good fortune to know him; now, |
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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 memory of Don Wyatt Rader and |
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extend sincere condolences to his relatives and many friends; and, |
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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 Don Rader. |