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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Oscar Jesus Hale retired as chief investigator of |
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the Office of the District Attorney for the 49th Judicial District |
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of Texas in Webb County in August 2018, drawing to a close an |
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outstanding career in law enforcement that spanned half a century; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty, "O. J." Hale |
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was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965; he served in Vietnam, where |
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he saw combat on a daily basis as a gunship gunner, logged hundreds |
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of hours on helicopter missions, and survived two crash landings; |
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in recognition of his service, he earned 16 air medals, each |
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representing 25 hours of air time; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to civilian life, O. J. Hale joined the |
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Laredo Police Department in 1968, at the age of 22; he quickly |
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earned a sterling reputation as an investigator, and he was |
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promoted to detective, working cases relating to robbery, homicide, |
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and crimes against persons; and |
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WHEREAS, After less than five years with the police |
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department, O. J. Hale joined the Office of the District Attorney |
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for the 49th Judicial District of Texas in Webb County, where he |
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served as chief investigator for over 45 years; working under four |
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district attorneys over the course of his impressive tenure, he |
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helped solve dozens of murders and kidnapping cases for the FBI and |
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the Mexican authorities, played a vital role in several |
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high-profile capital murder trials, and helped negotiate the |
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surrender of a dangerous escapee in the 1980s; he also helped secure |
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the conviction of a serial killer from Alaska, and he contributed |
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significantly to the team that prosecuted the murderer of the |
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singer Selena; and |
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WHEREAS, O. J. Hale is widely respected by his peers as a |
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skilled and dedicated investigator; in 2015, the Texas Department |
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of Public Safety named its Laredo crime lab in his honor, and in |
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2018, he was recognized as Dean of Texas Investigators by the Texas |
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District and County Attorneys Association; and |
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WHEREAS, For five decades, O. J. Hale's dedication, |
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professionalism, and integrity greatly benefited and impacted the |
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people of South Texas, and he may indeed reflect with pride on a |
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career well spent as he embarks upon the next exciting chapter of |
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his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate O. J. Hale on his retirement from |
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the Office of the District Attorney for the 49th Judicial District |
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and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Hale as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Raymond |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1557 was adopted by the House on May |
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17, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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