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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 Dr. Jimmy D. Pritchard of Forney on |
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February 24, 2021, at the age of 65; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of John Henry Pritchard and Mary Cordelia |
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Pritchard, Jim Pritchard was born in Fairfield on August 30, 1955, |
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and grew up with three brothers, Randall, Wayne, and Dan; after |
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graduating from Sam Houston State University, he went on to earn his |
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master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological |
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Seminary; he was called to serve as pastor at First Baptist Church |
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in Gould, Oklahoma, and then at Elliott Baptist Church near Camden, |
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Arkansas; while leading Congress Avenue Baptist Church in Austin |
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for six years, he completed his doctor of ministry degree at |
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Southwestern; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Pritchard became senior pastor of First Baptist |
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Church in Forney in 1994; during his distinguished 27-year tenure, |
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the congregation grew by nearly 7,000 members and relocated to a |
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larger facility; moreover, it funded $10 million in mission work; |
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Dr. Pritchard served his denomination in numerous capacities, |
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including trustee and chair of both Criswell College and the |
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Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, trustee |
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of East Texas Baptist University, and president of the Southern |
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Baptists of Texas Convention; he was a keynote speaker for the 2009 |
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SBTC Empower Conference and the 2010 SBTC Annual Meeting; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Pritchard was supported by |
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the love and encouragement of his wife of 41 years, Jeannette Ann |
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Gilbreath Pritchard; they were blessed with three children, James, |
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John, and Julie, as well as eight grandchildren, Judah, Jolie, |
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Josiah, John, Jordan, Hayden, Ty, and Cole; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the death of Jim Pritchard has brought |
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great sorrow to those who loved him, his life was an inspiring |
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example of the good that one person can accomplish; now, therefore, |
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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 Dr. Jimmy D. |
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Pritchard and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his |
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passing; 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 Dr. Jimmy |
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D. Pritchard. |