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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of Charles Larry Wingert, former |
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publisher of the Monitor newspaper of McAllen, on January 16, 2021, |
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at the age of 83, has brought a profound loss to his loved ones and |
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to the community that he generously served; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1937, Larry Wingert was |
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the son of Tom and Thelma Wingert and grew up with a brother, |
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Darryl; he moved with his family to McAllen in his youth, and after |
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graduating from McAllen High School, he attended Pan American |
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College and Sul Ross State University; he first began his career in |
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the newspaper industry as a paperboy in 1953, and as he learned the |
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business over the years, he found employment with the Monitor, the |
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Valley Morning Star, and the Brownsville Herald, as well as with |
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publications in Pampa and Odessa and cities in Ohio and New Mexico; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wingert worked in the Rio Grande Valley for more |
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than four decades and served as publisher of McAllen's the Monitor |
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from 1977 to 1994; he was beloved by his employees, whom he always |
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treated with the utmost respect and appreciation, and his calm, |
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friendly management style helped the staff navigate the many |
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changes that occurred at the paper during his 17-year tenure; under |
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his leadership, the publication enjoyed one of the most successful |
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eras of its history; Mr. Wingert believed in the value of print news |
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not only as a vital source of information, but also as a force for |
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good in the community, and he was known to donate ad space to |
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charities and to utilize the paper in other ways to promote harmony |
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and unity among neighbors; and |
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WHEREAS, A dedicated volunteer and a supporter of numerous |
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local organizations and causes, Mr. Wingert was involved with the |
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McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, the Elks, Easter Seals, |
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the Rotary Club, and both the Boy and Girl Scouts; moreover, he was |
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a devout Catholic who attended mass daily, and he also found time to |
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visit hospice patients and to deliver meals to homebound seniors; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wingert shared nearly 65 years of marriage with |
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the love of his life, the former Margaret Alice Johnson; he was the |
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devoted father of three children, Stephan, Ashley, and Stephanie, |
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and he was proud to see his son follow in his footsteps to become the |
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Monitor's current publisher; his cherished family further included |
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three grandchildren, Kathryn, Jackson, and Amber; and |
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WHEREAS, Larry Wingert will be remembered with great |
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admiration for his professional achievements and for the myriad |
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ways he gave of himself to benefit others, and he will be deeply |
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missed by all who were privileged to know him; 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 Charles Larry Wingert |
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and extend sincere sympathy to his relatives and friends; and, be it |
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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 Charles |
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Larry Wingert. |