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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, James W. Arnold, a valued member of the Tyler |
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community and a friend to many, passed away on January 19, 2019, at |
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the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Loys and Clara Woolf Arnold, Jim Arnold |
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was born in Arp on February 8, 1931, and he grew up with the |
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companionship of two brothers, Paul and Richard; he attended London |
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High School, graduating as valedictorian of his class and serving |
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as captain of the football team, and he went on to earn a bachelor's |
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degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist |
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University, where he was a member of the Sigma Tau national |
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engineering honor society; and |
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WHEREAS, On July 19, 1952, Mr. Arnold was joined in matrimony |
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to his high school sweetheart, the former Bessie Nell Hazzard, and |
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the couple shared a rewarding marriage that spanned more than 66 |
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years; he was the proud father of four children, Sherry, Keith, |
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Jamie, and Mollie, and he had the pleasure of seeing his family grow |
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to include 13 grandchildren, Ben, Walter, James, Stephen, Jonathan, |
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John, Jimmy, Will, A.D., Melissa, Nellie, Bessie, and Lilly, as |
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well as eight great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Arnold embarked on a successful career with |
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Woolf & Magee, Inc., as a drilling engineer; he rose to the position |
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of president and owned the company until he sold it in 1991; a |
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leader in his profession, he was elected president of the |
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International Association of Drilling Contractors board of |
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directors, and he served on the boards of the American Petroleum |
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Institute and the National Petroleum Council; and |
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WHEREAS, A resident of Tyler for more than 66 years, |
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Mr. Arnold was a founding director of Heritage National Bank, and |
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he served as president of the board of directors for the Tyler Area |
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Chamber of Commerce; additionally, he was president of the Texas |
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Rose Festival Association and the Order of the Rose, and he was |
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highly involved in a number of community organizations, including |
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the Tyler Junior College Foundation, The University of Texas Health |
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Center at Tyler Development Board, and the Stewart Regional Blood |
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Center; and |
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WHEREAS, Sustained by a deep and abiding faith, Mr. Arnold |
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was a longtime member of Green Acres Baptist Church, where he served |
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as deacon emeritus; in his leisure time, he delighted in deer |
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hunting and watching his son and grandsons play football; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Arnold lived a life that was rich in personal and |
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professional achievements, and he will forever be a source of |
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inspiration to those he leaves behind; 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 James W. Arnold and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to his family 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 James W. |
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Arnold. |