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  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