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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Henry Albert Phillips Jr. on July 1, 2016, at the age of |
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95; and |
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WHEREAS, Hank Phillips was born in Providence, Rhode Island, |
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on April 6, 1921, to Henry and Freda Phillips; a graduate of East |
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Providence High School, he was working at a local steel mill when |
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the attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War |
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II, and soon thereafter he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps; he |
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was deployed overseas in September 1943, and over the next year, he |
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piloted 150 missions across the Himalayas, for which he was |
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accorded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and six other medals; he |
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continued his military career after the war, serving on 14 bases |
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across the United States before retiring from the air force in 1962; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, After returning to civilian life, Mr. Phillips |
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enjoyed a career as a data systems manager for the City of Tampa, |
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Florida, that spanned a decade and a half; in retirement, he became |
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an avid golfer and went on to win the 1978 Florida State Golf |
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Association Senior Four-Ball Championship as well as a host of |
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other golf tournaments around the nation; in addition, he found |
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time to recount his breadth of experiences in his 2012 |
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autobiography, Commander in the Sky; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Phillips married the love of his life, the |
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former Ollie Twilley, on February 15, 1945, and over the course of |
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more than seven decades together, the couple were blessed with a |
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fine family that included three daughters, Tricia Browne-Ferrigno, |
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Deborah MacIntosh, and Pamella Anderson, as well as five |
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grandchildren, Allison, Parke, Phillip, Shawn, and Paige, and three |
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great-grandchildren, James, Katherine, and Arden; and |
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WHEREAS, Coming of age during World War II, Hank Phillips |
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possessed the courage and initiative that defined the finest |
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members of that generation, and he leaves behind a record of service |
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that his loved ones can remember with pride; 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 life of Henry Albert Phillips |
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Jr. and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and friends; |
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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 and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Hank |
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Phillips. |
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Wilson |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2526 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 28, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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