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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed |
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cause for celebration, and Oleta Smith of Dumas is marking this |
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momentous milestone in her life on June 20, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Edwin and Elizabeth Thornton in 1917, on a |
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farm outside of Lockney, the former Oleta Thornton graduated from |
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high school in 1935 and married her sweetheart, Ben Smith, the |
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following year; they became the proud parents of a daughter, |
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Dorotha Evylena, and a son, James Warren; and |
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WHEREAS, The Smiths farmed in Floyd County before acquiring a |
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gasoline distributorship in Hart; during Mr. Smith's career in the |
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petroleum industry, they lived in a number of different Texas |
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communities, including Dumas and Texas City, as well as in New |
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Mexico and Utah; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship of |
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more than 51 years before Mr. Smith's passing; and |
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WHEREAS, Sustained by a deep faith, Mrs. Smith served as a |
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church secretary and Sunday school teacher; she also sang in the |
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choir and gave generously of her time and talents to many women's |
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mission groups; a charter member of the Utah Idaho Southern Baptist |
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Convention, she was a state officer of the WMU organization; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith is thought to be the oldest Gold Star |
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Mother in Texas; in honor of her son, who was killed in action |
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during the Vietnam War, she represented the families of the fallen |
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at both the groundbreaking for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans |
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Memorial and the monument's dedication; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to her family, Mrs. Smith enjoys spending |
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time with her daughter and son-in-law, Dick Waldren, her |
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grandchildren, Debra and David, and her great-grandchildren, Ben |
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and Hadley; she was recently honored as the oldest volunteer at the |
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Moore County Hospital District gift shop, and in her free time, she |
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enjoys reading, playing cards and dominoes, and watching the Texas |
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Rangers and Dallas Cowboys on television; and |
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WHEREAS, Oleta Smith has met life's challenges with |
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resilience and determination, and she is a source of tremendous |
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inspiration to all who are fortunate enough to know her; 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 congratulate Oleta Smith on the joyous occasion |
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of her 100th birthday and recognize her as a Texas Treasure; 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 Mrs. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |