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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 711
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In Memory |
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of |
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Walter Derrick |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Gladewater are mourning the loss |
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of a beloved public servant, friend, and neighbor with the |
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passing of former mayor Walter Derrick on April 1, 2019, at the |
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age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Gilmer on April 8, 1930, Walter Derrick |
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graduated as valedictorian of Weldon High School in Gladewater; |
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he served his country as a member of the United States Army, and |
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he later resumed his education and earned bachelor's and master's |
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degrees from Texas College in Tyler, in addition to undertaking |
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studies at Huston-Tillotson College, Stephen F. Austin State |
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University, East Tennessee State College, and The University of |
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Texas at Tyler; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Derrick was hired as a teacher and coach for |
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the Gladewater Independent School District, and he led the |
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football team of his alma mater, Weldon High, to a 1968 state |
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finals berth in the Prairie View Interscholastic League; he |
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further distinguished himself by becoming the first African |
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American coach hired at Gladewater High School; later, he ran for |
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a seat on the Gladewater City Council, where he served for 22 |
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years and as mayor pro tempore for 15 years; his public service |
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career culminated with a four-year term as the city's first |
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African American mayor and subsequently ended with his |
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retirement from public office in 2012; in recent years, a street |
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in the city was named in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in |
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Gladewater, Mayor Derrick was instrumental in the creation of |
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Bumblebee Park and in a host of other major improvement projects; |
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he was also active with the East Texas Council of Governments, |
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Gladewater Habitat for Humanity, and myriad other groups, and he |
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was involved in distributing as much as $100,000 in scholarships |
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to local students through his work on the Gladewater Round-Up |
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Rodeo Association Board of Trustees; a man of faith, he served as |
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a treasurer and as deacon board chair at Pine Grove Missionary |
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Baptist Church in Gilmer; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mayor Derrick was blessed |
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with the love and support of his wife of 63 years, EverGrace |
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Derrick, and his children, Lanita Derrick-Smith, Rory Derrick, |
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and the late Eduardo Derrick, who preceded his father in death; |
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he took special pride in his grandchildren, Derrick, Andree', |
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Damien, Dana, Kamryn, Aubry, and Ebony, and great-grandchildren, |
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Amillion and Damien; and |
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WHEREAS, Walter Derrick cared deeply about his community |
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and gave generously of his time and talents to make it a better |
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place for all, and though he is greatly missed, his legacy lives |
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on in the hearts of the many people whose lives he touched; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Walter Derrick |
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and extend sincere sympathy to his relatives and many friends; |
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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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Walter Derrick. |
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Hughes |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 8, 2019, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |