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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 736
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In Memory |
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of |
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Billy Ray Thompson |
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and |
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friends of Billy Ray Thompson of Tyler, who passed away on |
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November 5, 2016, at the age of 69; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Billy Dale Thompson and Virginia Nell |
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Lytle Thompson, Ray Thompson was born in Monticello, Arkansas, |
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on February 9, 1947; he graduated from the University of |
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Southern Mississippi and went on to complete his master's |
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degree in business administration at Louisiana State |
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University; during Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 1967, he met |
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his future wife, the former Marilyn Miller, and they married on |
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November 28, 1969, in Vicksburg, Mississippi; the couple |
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became the parents of two sons, Eric and Brian, and as the boys |
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began participating in sports, Mr. Thompson delighted in |
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watching their events and devising cutting-edge training |
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regimens for them; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson began his distinguished career in |
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hospital administration at the University of Alabama; |
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subsequently, he became vice president of Lane Memorial Hospital |
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in Zachary, Louisiana, and then senior vice president of Hermann |
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Hospital in Houston; in 1981, he joined Mother Frances Hospital |
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in Tyler, and he was instrumental in launching the first |
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cardiovascular program in East Texas and in setting the |
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institution on the path toward becoming a regional system; a |
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founding executive of the Trinity Mother Frances Health System, |
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he developed its network of clinics, established an expansive |
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emergency medicine program, and created one of the nation's model |
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sports medicine programs; under his guidance, the system gained |
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national recognition for clinical excellence, operational |
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efficiency, and patient safety and satisfaction; moreover, he |
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played a pivotal role in the decision to merge with CHRISTUS |
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Health in 2016, and he was appointed president of that |
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organization; a visionary leader, he was a powerful advocate for |
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the implementation of robotic surgery, the FamilyCARE Center, |
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ConnectCARE, and the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital, and |
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his efforts led to the creation of the Ornelas Tower, a number of |
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regional health parks, the community hospital in South Tyler, and |
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many other facilities in East Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to health care and to the |
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community, Mr. Thompson gave generously of his time and expertise |
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to many professional and community organizations, among them the |
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American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the Boy |
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Scouts of America, and Hospice of East Texas; he was also a driving |
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force in the construction of new athletic facilities for both |
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Robert E. Lee and John Tyler High Schools; and |
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WHEREAS, This high-powered executive had a rare ability to |
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maintain a work-life balance, and he shared countless happy hours |
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relaxing with his beloved family; during 47 years of marriage, he |
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and his wife laughed together every single day, and they enjoyed |
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traveling to the Gulf Coast, the Florida Keys, and especially |
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their Riverland property in Saint Joseph, Louisiana; |
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Mr. Thompson took hunting trips all over the world and loved |
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cycling and completing his legendary workout routines; his |
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rugged outdoorsy exterior belied a soft heart that melted |
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completely in the company of his three treasured grandchildren, |
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Chase, Reid, and Miller, and he joined his wife in spoiling their |
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Dobermans as well; and |
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WHEREAS, Ray Thompson left an outstanding legacy through |
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his tremendous contributions to health care in East Texas, and |
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although he is greatly missed, the passage of time will never |
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diminish the joy, warmth, and generosity that he brought into the |
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lives of his loved ones; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Billy Ray |
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Thompson and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his |
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passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this day, it do |
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so in memory of Ray Thompson. |
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Hughes |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 8, 2017, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |