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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas |
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are mourning the loss of a respected and beloved leader with the |
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passing of Chief Mikko Colabe III Clem Fain Sylestine on May 21, |
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2019, at the age of 91; and |
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WHEREAS, Mikko Colabe III was born on November 4, 1927, on the |
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Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation to Bronson Cooper Sylestine, |
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the tribe's principal chief from 1936 to 1969, and Monzanda |
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Thompson Sylestine; a member of the Granddaddy Long Legs Clan, he |
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was a direct descendant of Chief Colabe, who served as the second |
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chief to the Principal Chief Antone in the early 1800s; he was also |
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the husband of the late Leona Abbey Sylestine, a well-known |
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artisan; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating with a bachelor's degree from |
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Austin College in Sherman in 1952, Mikko Colabe III worked as a |
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teacher and coach at the Woodville and Goodrich school districts |
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and at Southmayd, Holland, and Shepherd High Schools until his |
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retirement in 1988; he was also employed by the Sam Houston Electric |
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Cooperative, which assigned him to work directly with his community |
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as a job developer through the Job Training Partnership Act; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Colabe III was an influential member of his |
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tribe throughout most of his adult life, and his record of service |
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included his election to the Tribal Council and his appointment as |
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its chair; he went on to follow in the footsteps of his father by |
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being elected second chief of the tribe on October 19, 1994; after |
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nearly two decades in that post, he was named principal chief on |
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October 5, 2013; he also shared his time and wisdom as an elder at |
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the Indian Village Presbyterian Church located on the reservation; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Guided by his steadfast concern for the needs of his |
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people, Chief Mikko Colabe III lived a rich and purposeful life, and |
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he will be remembered with lasting admiration and gratitude by the |
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community he so faithfully served; 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 Chief Mikko Colabe |
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III Clem Fain Sylestine and extend deepest condolences to all those |
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who mourn his passing; 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 Chief Mikko |
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Colabe III. |