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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of Berl Lawrence Handcox Sr. of Austin on |
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June 21, 2020, at the age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Denton on February 23, 1932, to R. D. and |
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Annie Vernell Handcox, Berl Handcox grew up with a brother, James; |
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after graduating from Fred Moore High School in 1949, he served in |
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the U.S. Navy during the Korean War; he subsequently attended |
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Prairie View A&M College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in |
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1961; while there, he met his future wife, the former Ruby L. |
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Hemphill; the couple went on to share 50 rewarding years of marriage |
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until her passing, and their cherished family grew to include three |
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sons, Gary, Ricky, and Berl, as well as seven grandchildren and |
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eight great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Handcox began his career as an educator and |
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coach at high schools in Sealy and College Station; he then worked |
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at the Gary Job Corps Center in San Marcos before moving to Austin |
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in 1964 and finding employment as an in-house education training |
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facilitator and a company recruiter with IBM; along the way, he |
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distinguished himself as not only a civic leader but as a |
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trailblazer in his community, becoming the first African American |
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elected to the Austin City Council since it adopted the |
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manager-council form of government; he ably represented his |
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constituents for two terms, from 1971 to 1975, focusing his efforts |
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on improving the quality of life in East Austin by revitalizing |
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infrastructure and addressing many other needs; and |
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WHEREAS, After his tenure on the council, Mr. Handcox was |
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appointed executive director of the Office of Equal Employment |
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Opportunity under Governor Dolph Briscoe; he then worked for |
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Motorola and the Texas Workforce Commission and became an |
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entrepreneur prior to his retirement; he also volunteered on |
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various boards throughout his life; and |
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WHEREAS, Berl Handcox gave freely of his time and expertise |
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to better his community, and he leaves behind a legacy that will |
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resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Berl Lawrence |
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Handcox Sr. and extend deepest sympathy to his loved ones; and, be |
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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 Berl |
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Handcox. |
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Cole |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 22 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
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vote of the House on March 10, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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