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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life rich with purpose has drawn to a close with |
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the death of U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Roy W. Burley Sr. of San |
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Antonio on April 20, 2017, at the age of 93; and |
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WHEREAS, Roy Burley was born in Hallettsville on October 29, |
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1923, to Robert Burley and Beatrice Woodard; after graduating from |
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Phillis Wheatley High School in San Antonio in 1940, he attended |
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Prairie View A&M College until he was called to active duty in the |
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U.S. Army in May 1943; he was among an elite group of African |
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Americans who took part in the Army Specialized Training Program at |
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Howard University, and he was commissioned as a second lieutenant |
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in December 1944; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his distinguished 30-year |
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military career, Colonel Burley served in World War II, the Korean |
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War, and the Vietnam War, in duty assignments ranging from platoon |
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leader to brigade commander and high-level staff posts; he attended |
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the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College, |
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earned bachelor's degrees from the University of Nebraska and |
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Prairie View A&M, and studied at The University of Texas at San |
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Antonio; Roy Burley retired from active duty in 1973 as chief of the |
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ROTC Division, Fifth Army Headquarters; his numerous military |
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awards include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the |
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Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf |
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clusters; and |
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WHEREAS, In civilian life, Colonel Burley served the San |
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Antonio community as a member of the University Health System Board |
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of Managers, as executive coordinator of a job-training partnership |
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between the San Antonio Alliance of Business and the Private |
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Industry Council, and as executive director of the Bexar County |
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Opportunities Industrialization Center; he also served as director |
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of personnel at USAA and, for eight years, as executive assistant to |
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State Representative Lou Nelle Sutton; and |
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WHEREAS, Colonel Burley and his college sweetheart, Lillian |
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Snow, shared a rewarding marriage that spanned 72 years; the proud |
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father of four children, Roy, Ronald, Nan, and Joan, this esteemed |
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Texan was blessed later in life with six grandchildren and four |
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great-grandchildren; he was an active member of the United |
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Methodist Men and of the Prometheans, the veterans association of |
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those soldiers who trained together at Howard University during |
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World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family and his community, Roy |
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Burley made a difference in many lives, and his record of integrity, |
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service to others, and dedication to duty will continue to inspire |
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all those who knew and loved 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 Colonel (Ret.) Roy |
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W. Burley Sr. and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and many |
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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 Roy Burley |
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Sr. |
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Gervin-Hawkins |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1875 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 11, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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