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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends will forever treasure their |
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memories of Billy Ray Richardson of Angleton, who died on April 16, |
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2021, at the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, Billy Richardson was born in Donie on February 6, |
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1934, to Eudene and Eldon Richardson, and he grew up in Freeport |
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with his brother, James; while still attending high school, he |
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worked for the Daily Review newspaper as a sports reporter, |
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photographer, and darkroom developer; he graduated with the last |
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class of Freeport High School in 1951, and, answering his nation's |
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call to duty, he served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps at the rank |
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of corporal during the Korean War; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to civilian life, Mr. Richardson resumed |
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his career in journalism, working as a sports reporter for the Daily |
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Facts-Review and as news editor for the Angleton Times, helping to |
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expand the paper into a five-day daily; in 1966, he started his own |
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business, Times Printers & Stationers in Angleton, and he continued |
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to cover local sports for the Houston Post, the Houston Chronicle, |
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and the Brazosport Facts; a leader in his community, he |
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participated in many civic organizations, and his contributions |
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were recognized with an award from United Way of Brazoria County and |
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the Pioneer Award from the Angleton Chamber of Commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, Kind and generous, Mr. Richardson enjoyed talking |
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sports and politics over coffee, and he delighted in traveling and |
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spending time with his family; he shared a loving 65-year marriage |
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with his wife, Ottalie, and he took great pride in his three |
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children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and a respected journalist and |
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businessman, Billy Richardson will be deeply missed, but the |
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passage of time will never diminish the joy and love that he brought |
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into the lives of all who knew him; 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 Billy Ray |
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Richardson and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Ottalie Gormey Richardson; to his children, |
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Bill Richardson, David Richardson and his wife, Babette, and Kristi |
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Bentivegna and her husband, James; to his grandchildren, Brittney |
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Richardson, Brandon Richardson and his wife, Kelly, Davis |
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Richardson, Morgan Bentivegna, and Aidan Bentivegna; to his |
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great-grandchildren, Sarah and Hailyn Richardson; and to his other |
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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 Billy |
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Richardson. |