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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 14
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In Memory |
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of |
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Joe Willard Kirven |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Joe Willard Kirven, who died July 5, |
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2021, at the age of 90; and |
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WHEREAS, Joe Kirven was born on June 5, 1931; he was a |
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standout athlete at Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas, |
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and he attended Wiley College on an athletic scholarship; after |
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his graduation, he acquired the first of his many successful |
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businesses, ABCO Maintenance, with only $500 in capital; and |
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WHEREAS, He built ABCO Maintenance into a multimillion |
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dollar company, and he later expanded his business interests to |
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include real estate and a chemical company; he became one of the |
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first African American millionaires in Dallas; and |
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WHEREAS, Noted for his enthusiasm for giving back to his |
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community, Joe was active in a wide range of civic organizations, |
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notably in the field of education; he was on the board of trustees |
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of the Hockaday School and of the University of North Texas, and a |
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scholarship was named in his honor at his alma mater, Wiley |
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College; he also served on the boards of the Dallas Historical |
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Society, the Dallas Independent School District, Park South |
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YMCA, and the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, He was active in the political arena and served on |
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the Dallas City Council; he was a special assistant to Governor |
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Bill Clements, and he was engaged in steering qualified black |
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candidates to appointments to state commissions; he was a member |
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of President Richard Nixon's Advisory Council for Minority |
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Enterprise, and he was invited to participate in President Jimmy |
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Carter's Conference on Minority Business; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a man of wisdom, strength, and |
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determination who gave unselfishly to others, and his commitment |
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to public service and his enthusiasm for living each day to the |
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fullest will long be a source of inspiration for all who were |
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privileged to share in his life; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and |
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grandfather, and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured |
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forever by his family and countless friends; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
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condolences to the bereaved family of Joe Willard Kirven: his |
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beloved wife, Gloria Foster Kirven; his daughter, Josette Kirven |
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Valtierra; and his grandsons, Gregory Valtierra IV and Michael |
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Valtierra; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Joe Kirven. |
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West |
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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 July 22, 2021, 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 |