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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of admired inventor, entrepreneur, and |
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beef industry pioneer William Cline Pratt on October 21, 2020, at |
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the age of 77, brought a great loss to his family and friends; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Kenneth and Virginia Pratt, Bill Pratt |
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was born in San Antonio on November 5, 1942, and he grew up on a |
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ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, with two siblings, Hal and Kathleen; |
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he married the love of his life, the former Linda Brooks, and they |
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became the proud parents of three sons, Bryan, who died in September |
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2020, and Fred and Glen; and |
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WHEREAS, After earning his bachelor's degree in animal |
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science from Oklahoma State University, Mr. Pratt served in the |
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U.S. Army National Guard for seven years; he invented and patented a |
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revolutionary system for measuring and delivering micro feed |
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ingredients to cattle, and in 1971, he and his wife founded Micro |
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Chemical Incorporated in Amarillo; the company expanded into |
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ranching, packing, retailing, and other areas, and it became Micro |
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Beef Technologies in 1999; by 2011, Mr. Pratt held nearly 90 |
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patents in the U.S. and abroad, and his company had well over 200 |
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employees and more than $230 million in annual revenue; and |
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WHEREAS, With a remarkable work ethic, Mr. Pratt also founded |
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Amarillo Steel Fabricators, Panther Lake Ranch, Bluestem Ford, |
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Pawhuska Dozer and Field Service, Latigo Oil Company, and Bill's |
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Backyard Classics; he always credited his wife's assistance for his |
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success, and he was a wonderful mentor to numerous aspiring |
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inventors and entrepreneurs; over the years, he expressed his faith |
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quietly through countless acts of kindness, and his patriotism |
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shone through his support for military and veterans organizations; |
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his modest demeanor belied an adventurous streak, and he flew solo |
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north of the Arctic Circle and won the majority of his races in the |
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Sports Car Club of America's Formula Atlantic series; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Bill Pratt is deeply missed by those he |
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left behind, they will forever treasure their memories of his |
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compassion, generosity, and endless zest for learning; now, |
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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 life of William Cline Pratt |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Linda Pratt; to his sons, Fred Pratt and his wife, Linda, and |
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Glen Pratt and his wife, Natalia; to his sister, Kathleen Jackson; |
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to his seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and to his |
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many other relatives and 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 William |
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Cline Pratt. |