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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Frank Dewayne Finchum of Orange on November 10, 2016, at |
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the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Frank Edward and Jessie L. Finchum, |
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Mr. Finchum was born on May 18, 1932, in Port Arthur and grew up |
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with the companionship of a sister, JoAnn; he excelled in sports |
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during his youth, and after graduating from Thomas Jefferson High |
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School in 1951, he received an athletic scholarship to The |
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University of Texas at Austin, where he played football for four |
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years and helped the Longhorns to victory in the 1953 Cotton Bowl; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, After receiving his degree, Mr. Finchum went to work |
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in the oil and gas services industry; he accepted a position as a |
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treating engineer with the Western Company and moved to Levelland |
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in 1955, then worked briefly at a small refining operation before |
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moving back home to Port Arthur; he ultimately put down roots in |
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Orange, where he embarked on a career with Orange Pulp and Paper, |
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later known as Equitable Bag Company, progressing from floor |
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supervisor to planning and production manager over the course of a |
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rewarding tenure that spanned 38 years; and |
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WHEREAS, In the late 1950s, this esteemed Texan answered his |
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nation's call and enlisted in the United States Army; he served a |
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tour of active duty with special services at Fort Lee, Virginia, |
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followed by seven years with the U.S. Army Reserve; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to his local community, Mr. Finchum gave |
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generously of his time and talents to a number of civic and |
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volunteer organizations, including the boards of the Greater Orange |
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Area Chamber of Commerce, the Sunset Grove Country Club, and |
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Habitat for Humanity, for which he spearheaded an annual charity |
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golf tournament; in addition, he coached Little League football for |
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eight years, and he served as chair of the Orange County Republican |
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Party and as a member of the City of Orange Master Plan Committee; |
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sustained by a deep faith, he was also a longtime congregant at |
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First United Methodist Church in Orange; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Finchum was blessed with |
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the love and support of his wife, Nancy Jo, with whom he shared 61 |
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cherished years of marriage; he was a devoted father to his two |
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sons, Tab and Frank, and to his daughter, Nan, and he took great |
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pride in his four grandchildren, Taylor, Ben, Annie, and Mark; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Frank Finchum's death has brought great |
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sorrow to those who loved him, his life was an inspiring example of |
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the good that one person can accomplish, and he will forever be |
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remembered with admiration and affection; 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 Dewayne |
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Finchum and extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn his passing; |
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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 as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |