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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Marshall lost an admired civic leader, |
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educator, and broadcaster with the death of Frank John Lower on |
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August 16, 2016, at the age of 74; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Kankakee, Illinois, on January 3, 1942, |
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Frank Lower was the son of Frederick and Nellie Lower; he grew up in |
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Colorado and completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at Adams |
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State University before going on to earn his doctorate from Florida |
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State University; on February 3, 1967, he married the love of his |
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life, Jacquelyn Dean Lower, and the couple became the proud parents |
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of three children, Laura, Malcolm, and Frank; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Lower taught at Georgia State University, |
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Metropolitan State University of Denver, Union University in |
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Tennessee, and Louisiana State University Shreveport before |
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joining the communications department faculty of East Texas Baptist |
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University in 1991; he served as chair of the department, and under |
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his leadership, ETBU launched its annual Christian Writers |
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Conference; following his retirement in 2006, he continued to teach |
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part-time for four more years; he established a strong rapport with |
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his students and was always willing to listen to their concerns; and |
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WHEREAS, A dedicated journalist, Dr. Lower covered both news |
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and sports for KMHT until his passing; he was extremely |
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knowledgeable about county government, and his distinctive voice |
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and passion for sports made his game broadcasts exciting for fans; |
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he was an enthusiastic supporter of local teams, and he faithfully |
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attended Marshall Lady Mavericks and Harleton Wildcats softball |
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games, at home and away; win or lose, he offered kind encouragement |
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to the young athletes, their parents, and their coaches, and he |
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earned the affectionate nickname "Dr. Frankensports"; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Lower served on the board of the Marshall Depot |
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Museum and worked tirelessly on projects such as the Santa at the |
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Depot event; moreover, he served as president and as secretary of |
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the Marshall Regional Arts Council, and he was an active member of |
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the Marshall Lions Club; he gave generously of his time and talents |
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to the Marshall Chamber of Commerce, acting as a judge at its |
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FireAnt Festival and performing in plays he wrote at Wonderland of |
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Lights events; in recognition of his contributions, the |
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organization presented him with its annual Mover and Shaker award; |
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he was a valued member of First Baptist Church as well; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family and his community, |
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Frank Lower made a meaningful difference in the lives of his loved |
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ones and fellow citizens alike, and those who were privileged to |
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know him will forever treasure their memories of his |
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thoughtfulness, warmth, and wonderful sense of humor; 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 pay tribute to the life of Frank Lower and extend |
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sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Jacquelyn Lower; to his children, Laura Dean Lower and her husband, |
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Daniel Dohner, Malcolm Frederick Lower and his wife, Brandy, and |
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Frank Garrison Lower and his wife, Lydia; to his grandchildren, |
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Aaron and Jacquelyn Dohner and Amelia, Emery, Makenna, Henry, and |
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Maya Lower; to his sister, Jennifer Lower Weirick, and her husband, |
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Vance; and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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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 Frank |
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Lower. |