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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to music education has drawn to a |
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close with the death of Stuart Bird on January 21, 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Mansfield, Louisiana, Mr. Bird graduated |
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from Many High School in 1966, and he earned both his bachelor's |
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degree in music education and his master's degree in educational |
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administration at Northwestern State University; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Bird began his career teaching band at the age |
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of 19, and he went on to serve as band director for schools in |
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Louisiana and Texas and as director of fine arts for the Carthage |
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Independent School District; moving into administration, he was a |
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high school principal in Carthage and Jacksonville, and he later |
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became superintendent of Jacksonville ISD and Troup ISD; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, student bands under Mr. Bird's |
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direction won countless awards, and he served as a clinician for |
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all-district and all-region bands across Louisiana and Texas; he |
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was inducted into the Hall of Distinguished Educators at the |
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College of Education at Northwestern State University, and he was |
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named the NSU Alumni Band Director of the Year in 1992; at his |
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induction into the Carthage Band Hall of Fame, he had the privilege |
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of hearing "Bird's Battlin' Brigade," a march composed in his honor |
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by the director of bands at Texas A&M University; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Bird shared a rewarding marriage of 39 years |
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with his wife, Sharon, and he took great pride in their children and |
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grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and an exceptional educator, |
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Stuart Bird lived a rich and purposeful life, and he leaves behind a |
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legacy that will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough |
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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 memory of Stuart Bird and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Sharon Bird; to his children, Tracy and David Modlin, Adam |
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Bird, Ginger and Alan Colston, Kyle Bird, and Holly and Eric Lyddy; |
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to his grandchildren, Jacob and Abigail Bird, Braden Bird, Kyle |
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Modlin, Landry and Maddux Lyddy, and Patrick, Paige, and Payton |
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Colston; to his aunt and uncle, Betty and Noel Tipton, and to his |
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other relatives 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 the members of his family and that when the Texas House |
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of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Stuart |
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Bird. |