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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 the Reverend Bryan Dunagan of Dallas on |
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October 26, 2023, at the age of 44; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Deborah and Michael Dunagan, Bryan |
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Dunagan was born in Dallas on September 21, 1979; he moved to |
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Houston during middle school and earned his bachelor's degree in |
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political science from Stanford University, where he was active in |
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campus ministries and played lacrosse; he went on to earn a master |
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of divinity degree from Regent College and a doctor of ministry |
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degree from Fuller Theological Seminary; he served congregations in |
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California, Washington State, and Houston before becoming a |
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teaching pastor at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, where |
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he expanded youth outreach and increased attendance; and |
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WHEREAS, Reverend Dunagan was installed as senior pastor of |
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Highland Park Presbyterian Church in 2014, at the age of 34; he |
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guided the congregation through a denominational change, a major |
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building campaign, and the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic; in |
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addition, he led the planting of three local churches, Peak Street |
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Church, Grace Church Lake Highlands, and Good Shepherd Oak Cliff; a |
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gifted scholar and communicator with a self-deprecating sense of |
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humor, he was able to distill his wide-ranging theological |
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scholarship for a general audience, sometimes incorporating |
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relevant pop culture references; under his leadership, the church |
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experienced record growth; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2008, Reverend Dunagan married the former Alison |
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Wheeler; he championed her passion for global missions and they |
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shared their faith with people from Cuba and the Dominican Republic |
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to Kenya, Pakistan, and Turkey; the devoted couple was blessed with |
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three children, Annie, Wheeler, and Collier Jane; Reverend Dunagan |
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instilled in them a love of the great outdoors and enjoyed coaching |
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his son in lacrosse and cheering for his daughters at their athletic |
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events; and |
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WHEREAS, Bryan Dunagan touched countless lives through his |
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warmth, kindness, and compassion, and although his loss is |
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difficult to bear, he will forever be a source of inspiration to all |
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who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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the Reverend Bryan Dunagan and extend sincere sympathy to the |
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members of his family: to his wife, Ali Dunagan; to his children, |
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Annie, Wheeler, and Collier Jane Dunagan; to his father, Michael |
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Dunagan; and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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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 Bryan |
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Dunagan. |