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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to the service of his community, |
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state, and nation drew to a close with the death of retired Army |
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National Guard Brigadier General Thomas Gerald Stone of Temple on |
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April 2, 2021, at the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of a sharecropper, Tommy Stone was born in |
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the back of a cotton wagon on May 16, 1933, to Bertha and Ocie Stone, |
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and he grew up in Marlin with four siblings, Barbara, Margaret, Al, |
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and Butch; in 1956, he married the former Claudette Miller, and they |
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became the proud parents of three children, Keith, Janet, and |
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Kelly; later in life, he was blessed with eight grandchildren, |
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Audrey, Alexandra, Emily, Sam, Deena, Nicole, Anna, and Kaden; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating from high school in Marlin, |
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Mr. Stone attended Wharton Junior College and what is now Sam |
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Houston State University on football scholarships, and he later |
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earned a master's degree in history and education at Hardin-Simmons |
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University; his civilian career in coaching and teaching spanned 30 |
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years, and he rose to become head coach and athletic director at |
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Lubbock High School; after moving to Temple, he ran a driving school |
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and safety consultancy until retiring in 2002; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Stone first joined the National Guard when he |
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was still in high school, training as an infantryman and tank |
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crewman; while living in Lubbock, he was promoted to full colonel |
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and served on active duty at Fort Sheridan, Illinois; he earned a |
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master's degree in military science and international relations |
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from the U.S. Army War College; in 1996, he was promoted to |
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brigadier general and served as assistant division commander for |
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support of the 49th Armored Division, which at the time was the |
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largest armored division in the world; his military awards included |
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the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army |
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Commendation Medal; and |
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WHEREAS, A leader in his community, Mr. Stone served three |
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terms on the Temple City Council, and he was president of the Temple |
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Industrial Development Authority and a trustee of the University of |
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Mary Hardin-Baylor; he was also a member of the Temple Civil Service |
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Commission, the Killeen-Temple Urban Transportation Committee, the |
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Temple Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, and the |
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Texas Legislative Military Task Force; a man of faith, he was a |
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congregant of Immanuel Baptist Church; he was honored with the |
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Temple Distinguished Citizen Award and the Temple Rotary Citizen |
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Award, among other accolades; and |
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WHEREAS, Tommy Stone lived a rich and purposeful life, and he |
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leaves behind a record of service that his loved ones can remember |
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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 Thomas Gerald Stone |
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and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and many friends; and, |
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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 Thomas |
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Stone. |