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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former state representative Michael Hamilton of |
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Mauriceville passed away on November 8, 2019, at the age of 58, |
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bringing a profound loss to his loved ones, to the friends he made |
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at the statehouse, and to the many people whose lives he benefited |
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through his public service; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on September 30, 1961, Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton |
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was the son of Michael Hamilton and Carrie Hebert and the eldest of |
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their six children; he studied at Lamar University and worked a |
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series of jobs in the food and beverage industry before purchasing |
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Tuffy's Eatery in Mauriceville in 1990; although he eventually sold |
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the restaurant in 2005, the nickname "Tuffy" followed him |
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throughout his life; he continued serving Southern comfort food at |
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the second eatery he owned, Hamilton's Restaurant and Bar, which he |
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opened in Port Arthur in 2017, and at the time of his passing, he was |
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the owner of The West Bar and Grill in Beaumont; as a successful |
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restaurateur, he at one time led the Texas Restaurant Association |
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as president; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2003, Mr. Hamilton embarked on the first of five |
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consecutive terms in the Texas House of Representatives, where he |
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worked to advance the interests of his constituents in Hardin, |
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Newton, and Orange Counties until concluding his tenure in 2013; |
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during his years in office, he chaired the Licensing and |
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Administrative Procedures Committee and the Natural Resources |
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Committee, and he served as co-chair of the Texas Environmental |
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Flows Advisory Group and as vice chair of the Local Government Ways |
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and Means Committee and the Select Committee on Emergency |
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Preparedness; he was known for being friendly and affable to his |
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fellow lawmakers, including those from across the aisle, and he |
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always treated his staff with great respect; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hamilton was a devoted husband and father who |
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embraced family values in every area of his life; he shared 32 years |
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of marriage with his wife, Terry Hamilton, and was blessed with four |
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children, Melissa, Lacey, Kevin, and Michael, and five |
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grandchildren, Taylor, Tyler, Gabby, Emily, and Sophie; he |
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cherished the time he spent with his loved ones at gatherings, where |
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he always made certain that everyone around him was enjoying |
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themselves as much as he was; and |
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WHEREAS, Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton worked to better the lives of |
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his fellow Texans with generosity, enthusiasm, and unwavering |
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commitment, and he leaves behind a record of service that his loved |
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ones can remember with pride; 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 former state |
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representative Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton and extend deepest |
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condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Terry |
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Hamilton; to his mother, Carrie Hebert; to his children, Melissa |
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Eggleton and her husband, Mike, Lacey Coyne and her husband, Alex, |
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Kevin Sensat and his wife, Kim, and Michael Hamilton; to his |
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grandchildren, Taylor, Tyler, Gabby, Emily, and Sophie; to his |
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siblings, Paula Adams and her husband, Ricky, Ginger Provost and |
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her husband, Reagan, Kip Hamilton and his wife, Cara, Greg Hamilton |
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and his wife, Colinda, and Blaine Hamilton and his wife, Alicia; and |
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to his 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Michael |
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"Tuffy" Hamilton. |