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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of Billy Bates Hedges of Quitman on May 31, |
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2023, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on September 19, 1938, Bill Hedges grew up in |
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Little Rock, Arkansas, with two siblings, Jerry Lee and Harold; he |
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attained the rank of Eagle Scout, and he was a member of the Class of |
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1956 at Little Rock Central High School; after attending Hendrix |
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College, he earned a history degree from Southern Methodist |
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University and went on to graduate from the SMU Perkins School of |
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Theology; and |
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WHEREAS, Embarking on a career as a United Methodist pastor |
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that would span more than four decades, Mr. Hedges served at 20 |
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churches throughout East Texas; moreover, he was a Methodist |
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Conference historian, president of the Texas United Methodist |
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Historical Society, archivist for the South-Central Jurisdiction, |
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and a member of the General Commission on Archives and History; he |
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also held many local leadership roles with Rotary International, |
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including chapter president and district governor; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hedges shared a rewarding marriage with his |
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first wife, the late Jane Hedges; he was fortunate enough to find |
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love again with his second wife, Beth Robinson Hedges, who preceded |
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him in death in 2015; he took great pride in his 3 children, |
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Kathryn, Kent, and Rebecca, his 2 stepdaughters, Jill House and |
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Jill Robinson, and his 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A man of profound faith who dedicated himself to |
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serving others, Bill Hedges will be deeply missed, and those who |
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held him dear will forever remember the warmth and kindness he |
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brought into their lives; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 1st |
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Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Billy Bates |
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Hedges and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his brother, Harold Hedges III, and his wife, Mary Helen; to his |
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children, Kathryn Arata and her husband, Stephen, Kent Hedges and |
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his wife, Jennifer, and Rebecca Matthews and her husband, Ross; to |
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his stepdaughters, Jill House and her husband, Todd, and Jill Meil |
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Robinson; to his grandchildren, Jeremy, Hannah, Julianna, Nick, |
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Noah, Logan, Ellen, Olivia, Katie, Mary Claire, Ben, Adam, Madison, |
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and Chloe; to his great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives |
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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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Bill Hedges. |