H.R. No. 1539

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Keith Pendergrass of Austin passed away
	on June 21, 2018, at the age of 93, leaving his loved ones to reflect
	on a life of meaningful accomplishments and dedicated service to
	his country; and
	WHEREAS, The son of Lee Roy and Helena Slezinsky Pendergrass,
	Robert Pendergrass was born in Kingsville on September 15, 1924,
	and he grew up with the companionship of two siblings, William and
	Helen; after graduating early from Crozier Technical High School in
	downtown Dallas, he enrolled at Texas A&M College in 1941, at age
	16; he was one of the few first-semester freshmen to be admitted to
	the college's Singing Cadets choral group, and he retained his
	passion for singing and music throughout his life; both he and his
	brother showcased their vocal talents as regular performers on the
	WRR Gospel Hour in Dallas; and
	WHEREAS, On December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on
	Pearl Harbor, Mr. Pendergrass volunteered for service in the United
	States Army, which granted him a deferred induction until the end of
	the school year in 1942; assigned to the Medical Corps, he was sent
	to Ohio State University and the University of Michigan Medical
	School to complete his undergraduate and medical degrees; after
	completing his surgical residency at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, he
	reenlisted in the U.S. Air Force to assist in the Korean War effort;
	he served as chief of surgery for the 3555th Medical Group at Perrin
	Air Force Base in Sherman before being promoted to commander of the
	3645th Medical Group and Hospital at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del
	Rio; and
	WHEREAS, In 1953, Dr. Pendergrass entered private practice
	as a general family physician and surgeon in Pittsburg; he
	continued in that role until 1980, often treating patients on house
	calls, as had long been the practice in rural East Texas; during
	that time, he also served as medical director for the Medical and
	Surgical Hospital of Camp County and as a faculty member of the
	medical schools at Louisiana State and Vanderbilt Universities; he
	found great fulfillment in caring for local residents, and he also
	worked tirelessly to eradicate racial bigotry in the area; in 1964,
	he successfully ran for and served as president of the Pittsburg
	School Board to help ensure the full integration of the school
	system; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Pendergrass shared 67 years of marriage with his
	beloved wife, Mary Pendergrass; he took great pride in his four
	children and their spouses, Robert Keith Pendergrass and his wife,
	Juli, Mary Virginia Lannen and her husband, Rick, Henry Lee
	Pendergrass and his wife, Coleen, and Peter William Pendergrass and
	his wife, Desiree; with the passing years, the family grew to
	include nine grandchildren, Virginia, John, R. H., Anna, Sarah,
	Peter, Katie, Abby, and Annie, as well as three
	great-grandchildren; Dr. Pendergrass also welcomed into his home a
	Swedish exchange student, Janne Zetterqvist, who became like a son
	to him; and
	WHEREAS, In 1981, Dr. Pendergrass and his wife moved to
	Austin, where he worked for the Texas Department of Human Resources
	as the deputy commissioner for health policy and programs and as the
	special assistant for health affairs; he later became the Texas
	state Medicaid director, as well as vice president and medical
	director for the National Heritage Insurance Company and a medical
	advisor for Electronic Data Systems; he had the distinction of
	being appointed by Governor Bill Clements to the Governor's
	Coordinating Committee to Facilitate Organ Transplants, and he was
	reappointed by Governor Mark White after Governor Clements left
	office; and
	WHEREAS, Deeply proud of his Texas heritage, Dr. Pendergrass
	was a founding member of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum,
	which gave him an outlet to share the state's rich history with
	friends and acquaintances who visited Austin; he and his wife were
	also valued members of St. David's Episcopal Church; after retiring
	at age 72, he taught himself Spanish and took up oil painting,
	completing several works for his grandchildren; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Pendergrass was admired and respected
	for his considerable gifts and accomplishments, as well as for his
	devotion to his family, state, and country, and he will forever
	remain a source of inspiration for those he leaves behind; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Robert Keith
	Pendergrass and extend sincere sympathy to his family and friends;
	and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
	Dr. Pendergrass.
	Bucy
	Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Noble
	Allen Guillen Oliverson
	Allison Gutierrez Ortega
	Anchia Harless Pacheco
	Anderson Harris Paddie
	Ashby Hefner Parker
	Bailes Hernandez Patterson
	Beckley Herrero Paul
	Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Perez
	Bell of Montgomery Holland Phelan
	Bernal Howard Price
	Biedermann Huberty Ramos
	Blanco Hunter Raney
	Bohac Israel Raymond
	Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Reynolds
	Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez
	Buckley Johnson of Harris Romero, Jr.
	Bucy Kacal Rose
	Burns King of Hemphill Rosenthal
	Burrows King of Parker Sanford
	Button King of Uvalde Schaefer
	Cain Klick Shaheen
	Calanni Krause Sheffield
	Canales Kuempel Sherman, Sr.
	Capriglione Lambert Shine
	Clardy Landgraf Smith
	Cole Lang Smithee
	Coleman Larson Springer
	Collier Leach Stephenson
	Cortez Leman Stickland
	Craddick Longoria Stucky
	Cyrier Lopez Swanson
	Darby Lozano Talarico
	Davis of Dallas Lucio III Thierry
	Davis of Harris Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
	Dean Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
	Deshotel Metcalf Tinderholt
	Dominguez Meyer Toth
	Dutton Meza Turner of Dallas
	Farrar Middleton Turner of Tarrant
	Fierro Miller VanDeaver
	Flynn Minjarez Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morales White
	Geren Morrison Wilson
	Gervin-Hawkins Muñoz, Jr. Wray
	Goldman Murphy Wu
	González of Dallas Murr Zedler
	González of El Paso Neave Zerwas
	Goodwin Nevárez Zwiener
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 1539 was unanimously adopted by a rising
	vote of the House on May 14, 2019.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House