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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Joseph D. Deshotel of Beaumont served |
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the citizens of District 22 with great dedication for more than two |
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decades until his retirement in January 2023, following his 12th |
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term; and |
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WHEREAS, First elected in 1998, Representative Deshotel |
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became a strong voice for the needs of his district and the entire |
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Southeast Texas region; he developed great expertise in the |
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legislative process, and his collegiality, pragmatism, and |
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willingness to reach across the aisle made him an especially |
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effective lawmaker; moreover, he maintained a good working |
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relationship with leaders in the state's business sector; and |
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WHEREAS, Representative Deshotel assisted multiple House |
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speakers as a member of leadership teams; serving on numerous |
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committees, he chaired the Economic Development, Business and |
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Industry, and Land and Resource Management Committees, as well as |
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the House Select Committee on Texas Ports, Innovation and |
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Infrastructure; he co-chaired the Coastal Barrier System Committee |
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and served on the Select Committee on Hurricane Ike Storm |
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Devastation to the Texas Gulf; and |
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WHEREAS, Born and raised in Beaumont, Representative |
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Deshotel graduated from Lamar University and the Thurgood Marshall |
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School of Law; he served Lamar University as vice president for |
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administration and legal counsel, and he was appointed to its board |
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of regents by Governor Mark White, who also named him to the Job |
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Training Coordinating Council; deeply committed to civil rights, |
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Representative Deshotel organized Lamar's first NAACP chapter; he |
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was a member of the Beaumont City Council before running for state |
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office; a respected member of the business community, he founded a |
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general law practice; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his long career in public office, |
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Representative Deshotel made a positive difference in the lives of |
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countless Texans, and his contributions have earned him the lasting |
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respect and appreciation of his colleagues and fellow citizens |
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alike; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor former State Representative Joseph D. |
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Deshotel for his service and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued happiness in the next exciting chapter of his life; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Representative Deshotel as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |