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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life devoted to the service of |
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his nation has drawn to a close with the death of retired U.S. Army |
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Colonel Ralph C. Gauer Sr. on June 3, 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Chicago, Ralph Gauer received his |
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bachelor's degree from Loyola University, and in June 1958, he |
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joined the U.S. Army and embarked on a distinguished military |
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career that spanned three decades; he served around the world, |
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including assignments with special operations units in Central and |
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South America, Vietnam, and Korea, and later in life, he earned a |
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master's degree in government from the University of Maryland and |
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graduated from the U.S. Army War College and the National War |
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College; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary 31-year tenure in |
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the army, Colonel Gauer was the senior staff intelligence officer |
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for the 1st Cavalry Division and the III Corps, where he later |
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became interim chief of staff; he also served as Deputy C2 of the |
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United States/Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command, and he |
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commanded the 312th Military Intelligence Battalion and the 504th |
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Military Intelligence Brigade; in addition, he served many faculty |
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assignments at the army's John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center |
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and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he eventually |
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became director of its School of International Studies; and |
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WHEREAS, After retiring from the army in 1990, Colonel Gauer |
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started his own business, RCG Media Services, which provided |
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military and international news reports to television stations; in |
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1997, he settled in Austin, where he worked for State Senator Troy |
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Fraser on veterans and national defense issues and served as vice |
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chair of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission; he retired |
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again in 2017, but he remained active in veterans and military |
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issues as a leading member of the Association of the U.S. Army; and |
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WHEREAS, Colonel Gauer's numerous military decorations |
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included the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal, and in |
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civilian life, he earned the Spirit of America Medal from the Good |
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Soldier Foundation, the Armed Services YMCA Volunteer Excellence |
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Award, and the Jefferson Award for Public Service from the American |
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Institute for Public Service, among other honors; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Colonel Gauer enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, Mary; he was the proud father of four |
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children, Ralph, Todd, Laura, and the late Joseph August Gauer III, |
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and he was blessed with a granddaughter, Katherine, and a |
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great-granddaughter, Isla; and |
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WHEREAS, A distinguished soldier and a dedicated public |
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servant, Ralph Gauer will be deeply missed, but the patriotism, |
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integrity, and dedication to duty that defined his life will |
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forever inspire all those who had the good fortune to know him; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Ralph C. Gauer Sr. and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members |
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of his family and to his many friends; 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 Colonel |
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Ralph C. Gauer Sr. |