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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Athens lost an esteemed community leader |
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with the passing of Dr. Harold Leroy Smitson II on January 21, 2021, |
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at the age of 72; and |
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WHEREAS, Harold Smitson was born to Harold and Dorothy |
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Smitson on February 24, 1948, in Olney and grew up with three |
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siblings, Homer, Lora Ann, and Gary; a graduate of Midwestern |
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University, he continued his studies at The University of Texas |
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Southwestern Medical School and received his medical degree at just |
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21 years old; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Smitson began his career at Parkland Hospital in |
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Dallas, where he was the youngest radiology resident in hospital |
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history, and after two years there, he left to take a position as |
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the staff radiologist for Sheppard Air Force Base; he subsequently |
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moved to Henderson County in the early 1970s and went on to practice |
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medicine in the area for almost a half century; over the years, he |
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served as a radiologist at multiple sites across East Texas and |
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helped set up a mobile radiology lab; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted father, Dr. Smitson took great pride in |
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his children, Steffanie, Christopher, Patrick, and Meagan; as the |
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years passed, he had the privilege of seeing his family grow to |
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include 10 beloved grandchildren, Seth, Rose, Amelia, Liam, Sean, |
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Quinn, Willow, Bishop, Sutton, and Benton; and |
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WHEREAS, Harold Smitson lived a life that was rich in |
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personal and professional achievements, and memories of his |
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kindness and generosity will forever hold a special place in the |
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hearts of all who knew 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 Dr. Harold Leroy |
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Smitson II and extend sincere condolences 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 Harold |
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Smitson. |