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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former State Representative Thomas Jefferson "Tom" |
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Martin Jr. passed away on October 30, 2023, at the age of 88, |
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bringing a great loss to his family and friends; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Alberta Martin and T. J. "Jeff" Martin |
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Sr., Tom Martin was born in Poteet on April 2, 1935; when he was |
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small, his family moved from Christine to George West to be closer |
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to the "big ranch," La Campana; after graduating from George West |
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High School, he decided to see some of the country, attending Texas |
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A&M University-Kingsville, the University of Nevada, and Kent State |
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University in Ohio; he completed his education at Oklahoma Baptist |
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University, where he met his future wife, the former Jean Jones; |
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their 54-year marriage was made even richer with the addition of a |
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daughter, Angela, and a son, T. J. "Jeff" Martin III; eventually, |
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their treasured family grew to include two grandchildren, T. J. and |
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Ray, the sixth generation of Martins in McMullen County; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Martin went to work with his father, managing |
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La Campana, which at one time extended over Live Oak, McMullen, and |
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Duval Counties, along with two smaller ranches, the Lopez in |
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Atascosa County and the Lawhorn in northern McMullen County; one of |
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the original advocates for the Santa Gertrudis Breeders |
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International cattle association, he won numerous awards for his |
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success in advancing "America's original beef breed"; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1976, Mr. Martin won election to the Texas House |
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of Representatives; during two terms in office, he served on a |
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number of committees, including Agriculture and Livestock, Energy |
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Resources, and the House Joint Committee on the State Energy Plan; |
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he was chair of the Energy Resources Subcommittee on Appropriative |
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Matters and vice chair of the Environmental Affairs Subcommittee on |
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Pollution Control; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Martin were enthusiastic world |
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travelers, and they went scuba diving in the South Pacific, cruised |
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the Nile, and explored European castles; an avid reader as well, |
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Mr. Martin was particularly interested in architecture, history, |
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and following his favorite basketball, baseball, and football |
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teams; he was preceded in death by his wife and his sister, Alberta |
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"Bette" Mason, as well as his parents; and |
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WHEREAS, Tom Martin touched the lives of innumerable people |
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through his generosity and compassion, and although he is deeply |
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missed, his family and friends will forever treasure their memories |
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of his thoughtful nature, his wry sense of humor, and the honor and |
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humility with which he carried himself; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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the Honorable Thomas Jefferson "Tom" Martin Jr. and extend sincere |
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sympathy to the members of his family: Angela Martin, Chantel |
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Foretich, Jeff Martin III, Melaine Martin, Jamie Locke, Glenda |
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Locke, T. J. Martin IV, and Ray Martin; and to his many 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 Tom Martin. |