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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the |
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death of Thomas Daniel Franks of Nacogdoches on December 31, 2018, |
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at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Bernard and Anna Franks, Thomas Franks |
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was born in Stockman on January 29, 1932; he graduated from Stephen |
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F. Austin State University and went on to earn a master's degree in |
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education from the University of Houston and a doctoral degree in |
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education from Indiana University Bloomington; early in his career, |
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he was an elementary teacher and assistant principal in the |
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Brazosport Independent School District, and he later taught at |
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Westminster College and Bible Institute in Tehuacana, Fairview |
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Elementary School in Bloomington, and Oklahoma State University in |
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Stillwater; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Franks joined the faculty of SFASU in the early |
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1960s, and he served as department chair and dean of education; he |
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was instrumental in the establishment of a doctoral program in |
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educational leadership and the SFA/NISD Charter School; active in |
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many professional associations, he was the recipient of myriad |
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accolades, including both the Distinguished Professor and |
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Distinguished Alumnus awards from SFASU; he also benefited the |
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wider community in numerous leadership roles, among them trustee of |
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Nacogdoches ISD; following his retirement in 2000, he served on the |
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boards of the Timpson Area Genealogical and Heritage Society and |
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the Shady Grove Cemetery Association; he was a valued member of |
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First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches for more than a half |
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century; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, Dr. Franks shared a rewarding |
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relationship with his wife, Dorothy Smith Franks, that spanned 63 |
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years; he was the father of five children, Thomas Franks Jr., who |
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preceded him in death, and Carl Franks, Luanna Adams, Scott Franks, |
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and Rhonda Richardson, and he took great pride in his |
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grandchildren, Jamie and Shawn Askey, Randy and Kaylee Franks, |
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Whitney and James Frazier, Meredith and Jerry Fehlker, Seth and |
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Kalyn Franks, Anna and Hollis Smith, and Jessica, Jenna, and |
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Katelyn Richardson, as well as his great-grandchildren, Kayne and |
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Klaire Askey, Jolee Grace Conner, Jack Fehlker, and Addilyn Franks; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, While the death of Thomas Franks brings great |
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sadness to his family and friends, he leaves behind a legacy that |
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will long resonate in the Nacogdoches community; now, therefore, be |
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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 life of Dr. Thomas Daniel |
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Franks and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; |
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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 Thomas |
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Franks. |