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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to the service of his nation has |
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drawn to a close with the death of retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel |
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Robert Carl Johnson on October 31, 2020, at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, Bob Johnson was born on June 5, 1935, in |
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Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Vernon and Della Johnson, and he grew up |
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with two siblings, Donald and Marilyn; in 1955, he married the |
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former Nancy Nichols, and the couple went on to share a rewarding |
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union that spanned 65 years; he was the proud father of two |
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children, Michael and Catherine, and later in life, he was blessed |
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with three grandsons; and |
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WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty, Mr. Johnson |
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enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1955 and trained as a pilot; |
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during the Vietnam War, he flew 500 combat missions, including 39 |
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missions launched from aircraft carriers and one in which he was |
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forced to eject from a plane after an engine malfunction; he retired |
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from the marines in June 1983 at the rank of colonel, having logged |
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5,100 hours of flight time over the course of his career; and |
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WHEREAS, Colonel Johnson remained proud of his military |
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service and stayed faithful to his fellow veterans through the |
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years, and he played a leading role in the establishment of the Wise |
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County Veterans Memorial Park in Decatur and the Wise County |
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Veterans Memorial Museum in Bridgeport; committed to the effort to |
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bring a veterans hospital to Bridgeport, he continued to make phone |
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calls in support of the project from his hospital bed, until the end |
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of his life; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and a proud marine, Bob Johnson |
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earned the admiration of all who knew him, and he will forever hold |
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a special place in their hearts; 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 memory of Colonel (Ret.) |
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Robert Carl Johnson and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives |
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and 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 Robert Carl |
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Johnson. |