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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly |
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cause for celebration, and Finus Odell Tyler of Sealy reached that |
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impressive milestone in his life on April 11, 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in 1921 in Nacogdoches County to Benton and |
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Pearl Tyler, Finus Tyler grew up with four younger brothers and |
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sisters; answering his nation's call to duty during World War II, he |
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served from 1941 to 1945 with the 1317th Engineer General Service |
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Regiment, and following his honorable discharge, he earned a |
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bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University; he later |
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returned to Prairie View to earn a master's degree; and |
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WHEREAS, Settling in Bellville, Mr. Tyler became the first |
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Black county extension agent in Austin County, and he helped the |
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students of the 4H program win the Texas State Swine Show; after |
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moving to Sealy, he worked as a coach, agriculture teacher, and bus |
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driver for the Austin County Colored School before becoming one of |
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the first Black faculty members at Sealy High School, where he |
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taught agriculture for 34 years; he served as sponsor of the NFHA |
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Livestock Show and won the Texas Leadership Contest, and he |
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received the Texas Teacher Training Award and the Outstanding |
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Teaching Award from the Prairie View Alumni Association; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his professional contributions, |
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Mr. Tyler has been a leader in his community, serving for 25 years |
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on the Sealy Planning Commission and for five years on the Sealy |
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Library Board, where he helped establish the city's first public |
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library; he also served on the board of the youth mentoring |
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organization Raising Academic Performance, and in 2013, he was one |
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of the first Black grand marshals of the Austin County Fair Parade |
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and Livestock Show; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler continues to serve as a member of the |
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Sealy Eastside Foundation, the Prairie View Alumni Association, and |
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the board of Helping One Another Meals on Wheels, Inc., of Austin |
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County; a longtime congregant of Bethel Baptist Church of Sealy, he |
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was the Sunday school superintendent for 55 years, and he is |
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currently chair of the deacon board; and |
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WHEREAS, While still in college, Mr. Tyler married Esther |
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Johnson, and they had three children together, Theadra, Yvette, and |
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David; following the death of his first wife, he was fortunate |
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enough to find a new love, L. E. Sadler, and after she passed away, |
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he was joined in matrimony to Jo Evelyn Owens; today, he is the |
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proud patriarch of a family that also includes five grandchildren, |
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eight great-grandchildren, and seven stepchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Finus Tyler not only |
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served his nation, but has also met the challenges and |
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opportunities of a long life with grace and dignity, and on his |
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special day, he is blessed with the deep respect and lasting |
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affection of a host of loved ones; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Finus Odell Tyler on his 100th |
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birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Tyler as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Leman |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 901 was adopted by the House on May 8, |
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2021, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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