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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life of professional achievement and dedicated |
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public service drew to a close with the passing of former state |
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representative Jack Harvey Harris on March 13, 2017, at the age of |
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85; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Frank and Marguerite Curry Harris, Jack |
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Harris was born in Houston on December 12, 1931; he enlisted in the |
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United States Air Force in 1953 and proudly served his country for |
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eight years, rising to the rank of captain; during and after his |
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career in the military, he attended a number of different colleges, |
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including Texas A&M University, and he went on to complete |
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bachelor's and master's degrees and a doctoral degree in dental |
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surgery; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Harris built a successful private practice of |
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dentistry and periodontics, which he operated from 1961 to 1991; he |
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also shared his expertise as an assistant and associate professor |
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of periodontics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at |
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Houston and as a member of the advisory board of the Health Law & |
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Policy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center; a leader |
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in his profession, he served as president of both the Texas and |
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American Dental Associations, and he held membership in the Houston |
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District Dental Society and other groups; recognized with myriad |
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honors throughout his career, he published widely in local, state, |
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and national dental journals and delivered presentations at |
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conferences and universities around the world; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan decided to take on a more |
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prominent role in shaping public policy, and his election as a |
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legislator precipitated a 12-year tenure in the statehouse; from |
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1985 to 1997, he worked diligently to advance the interests of his |
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constituents in Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties, and he lent his |
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insight to the deliberations of committees on public health, |
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natural resources, environmental affairs, higher education, and |
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many other key issues; he remained active in civic life after |
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leaving office, serving as a Brazoria County commissioner from 1997 |
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to 2008; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired for his devotion to his family, Dr. Harris |
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had a rewarding marriage with his loving wife, Mary Ellen, that |
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spanned more than six decades, and he was immensely proud of their |
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son, Rick; through the years, he was further blessed with two |
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grandchildren, Ryan and Kathryn, as well as a treasured |
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great-granddaughter, Avery; and |
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WHEREAS, Jack Harvey Harris was a man of considerable gifts |
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and accomplishments whose life's work left an indelible mark on his |
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profession and community, and he leaves behind a record of service |
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that will continue to inspire all those 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 the Honorable Jack |
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Harvey Harris and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Mary Ellen Harris; to his son, Rick Harris and |
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his wife, Susan; to his grandchildren, Ryan Harris and his wife, |
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Stephanie, and Kathryn Harris Jones and her husband, Dustin; to his |
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great-granddaughter, Avery Madison Jones; to his sisters, Jean |
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Pulleyn and Jane Shephard and her husband, David; and to his other |
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relatives and friends; 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 the |
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Honorable Jack Harvey Harris. |
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Craddick |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1068 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on April 6, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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