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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Richard Joseph Knapik of Bay City on October 14, 2021, at |
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the age of 72; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Joseph and Eleanor Knapik, Richard Knapik |
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was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 22, 1948, and he grew up |
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with the companionship of four siblings, Therese, Marie, Mark, and |
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Joseph; answering his nation's call to duty, he served in the U.S. |
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Army during the Vietnam War, and his military honors included two |
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bronze stars for heroism as well as the Combat Infantryman Badge; he |
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graduated from St. Vincent de Paul Preparatory Seminary and the |
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University of Colorado; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Knapik enjoyed a rewarding career as manager of |
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Bay City Plumbing Supply from 1980 to 1991, and he subsequently |
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served as director of the Bay City Chamber of Commerce and |
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Agriculture for 13 years; in 2004, he was elected mayor of Bay City, |
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and he held that office until 2010; he then returned to his position |
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at Bay City Plumbing Supply, where he worked until 2020; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Knapik served as |
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president of the Gulf Coast Chamber Executives, chair of the Texas |
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Chamber of Commerce Executives board, and president of Community |
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Actors of South Texas; his many honors include a Distinguished |
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Service Award from TCCE, a George Holst Award from the Matagorda |
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County Economic Development Corporation, and a Jack Wiech Fellow |
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Award from Lions Club Camp; he was also named the Man of the Year by |
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the Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in 1998; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Knapik benefited from the |
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love and support of his wife, Nancy, with whom he shared a |
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fulfilling marriage that spanned 38 years; a man of deep faith, he |
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was a devoted congregant of First Presbyterian Church in Bay City, |
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where he served as an ordained elder; and |
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WHEREAS, While the death of Richard Knapik brings great |
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sadness to his family and friends, he leaves behind a legacy that |
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will long be treasured by all those who held him dear; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Richard Joseph |
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Knapik and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his wife, Nancy Wirth Knapik; to his sisters, Therese Moscinski |
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and her husband, Rick, and Marie Banevicus; to his brothers, Mark |
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Knapik and his wife, Patty, and Joseph Knapik; to his |
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sister-in-law, Susan Owen, and her husband, Prentice; to his nieces |
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and nephews, Samantha, Ashley, Lindsay, Steven, Michael, and Haley; |
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and to his other relatives and many 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 Richard |
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Knapik. |