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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a beloved figure in the Temple and |
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Houston sports communities drew to a close with the passing of Gene |
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Pemberton on January 27, 2019, at the age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of E. M. and Aleyne Pemberton, Gene |
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Pemberton was born in Cameron on October 27, 1939, and he grew up |
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with the companionship of two siblings, Stanton and Cheryl; he |
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graduated from Temple High School and Temple Junior College and |
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earned a business administration degree from Hardin-Simmons |
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University in 1962; after joining the American Desk Manufacturing |
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Company, he rose to the positions of vice president of marketing and |
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director of special projects during his 31-year tenure with the |
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company; and |
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WHEREAS, A dedicated sports fan, Mr. Pemberton officiated |
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basketball and football games, and in 1984 he was awarded lifetime |
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membership in the Southwest Basketball Officials Association; he |
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entered the sports broadcast booth in 1986, embarking on a storied |
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career as the voice of the Temple High School Wildcats football team |
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that spanned 28 years; providing color commentary for KTEM |
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NewsRadio 14, Mr. Pemberton partnered with Mark McLain on the |
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broadcasts, and the pair garnered numerous accolades, including a |
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prestigious Katie Award from the Press Club of Dallas in 1993; |
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Mr. Pemberton gave his final broadcast in 2014, detailing the |
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Wildcats' runner-up finish in the 5A Division 1 state championship |
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game; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pemberton joined the Houston Astros |
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organization in 1994 and initially held the title of director of |
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community development; in 1997, he was named the team's chaplain, |
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becoming the first person in Major League Baseball to hold such a |
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position on a full-time basis; he remained with the club until 2011, |
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and in the course of his service, he helped develop numerous |
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outreach initiatives and formed a close bond with numerous players; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Pemberton enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, Mary Holick Pemberton, and they shared a |
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rewarding marriage that spanned 55 years before her passing; he |
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took great pride in his three children, Gary, Allen, and Lisa, and |
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he had the pleasure of welcoming into his family five |
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grandchildren, Brandon, Andrew, Jeffrey, Elisabeth, and Emalye; a |
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valued member of his community, Mr. Pemberton was involved with |
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numerous civic activities and served as a deacon at Bethel Church of |
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the Assemblies of God; and |
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WHEREAS, Gene Pemberton lived a rich and purposeful life |
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centered on his family, his faith, and his deep love of sports, and |
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he will long be remembered and admired by all those who had the good |
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fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Gene Pemberton and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to his 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 Gene |
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Pemberton. |