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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of San Angelo lost one of its most admired |
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and influential community leaders with the passing of Frank M. Pool |
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on January 12, 2017, at the age of 98; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Hill County, near Grandview, on August 29, |
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1918, Frank Pool was the son of Francis Marion and Elizabeth Morrow |
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Pool; he grew up in Waco, where he developed a strong work ethic |
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from a young age, and he went on to receive a degree in petroleum |
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engineering from Texas A&M University in 1941; while there, he was |
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recognized as a distinguished student and served as a member of the |
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Corps of Cadets; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pool briefly worked for Humble Oil before being |
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called to active duty in the U.S. Army during World War II; as a |
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platoon leader in the First Armored Division, he fought against |
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German forces in North Africa, and he was later deployed to Europe |
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as a captain and company commander with responsibility for 400 men |
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and 44 tanks; he and his troops saw heavy combat during the Allied |
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advance on Germany, and for his valorous efforts, he was awarded the |
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Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and |
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two Purple Hearts; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pool met and began a whirlwind romance with the |
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love of his life, the former Elizabeth Hughes, while he was |
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temporarily in the United States between wartime deployments; the |
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couple exchanged wedding vows on February 16, 1946, and enjoyed 66 |
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years of marriage before Mrs. Pool passed away; they were blessed |
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with three children, Frank, Mary Ellen, and Martha, and they took |
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great pride in watching their family grow to include many |
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grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1948, Mr. Pool and his wife moved to San Angelo, |
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where he founded Pool Well Servicing Company; this marked the |
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beginning of a long and prosperous career in the energy business, |
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which showcased his engineering skill and considerable creativity |
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as he sought new ways of exploring for oil and gas; his company |
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eventually became a giant in the industry, with more than 1,000 rigs |
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located in the United States and over 20 foreign countries; he |
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served the firm as president from 1948 to 1978 and then as managing |
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director and president emeritus until 1995, and he continued to act |
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as an oil industry consultant into the 21st century; and |
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WHEREAS, A leader in his profession and his community, |
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Mr. Pool contributed his time and expertise as a member of the |
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Petroleum Engineering Industry Board at Texas A&M and served on the |
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boards of San Angelo National Bank and Texas Commerce Bancshares, |
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among numerous other businesses and organizations; he was a strong |
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advocate for integration during his tenure as president of the San |
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Angelo Board of Education from 1954 to 1959, and he also served on |
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the State Board of Education; in recognition of his wide-ranging |
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volunteer efforts, he was named San Angelo's Citizen of the Year in |
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2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his faith, Mr. Pool was a longtime |
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member of First Baptist Church, where he served as deacon and taught |
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a Sunday school class; in his free time, he enjoyed playing golf, |
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hunting, fishing, traveling, and cheering for the Aggies; more than |
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anything else, he treasured the time he spent with his family, and |
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some of his happiest memories involved welcoming friends and loved |
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ones to the beautiful mountain home that he and his wife shared in |
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Lake City, Colorado, his favorite place on earth; and |
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WHEREAS, Frank Pool built a life that was extraordinarily |
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rich in accomplishments and in meaningful service to others, and |
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although he is deeply missed, he will always be remembered with the |
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greatest respect and affection by all who had the good fortune to |
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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 memory of Frank M. Pool and |
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extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn his passing; and, be |
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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 Frank Pool. |