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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life well lived may help to comfort |
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those saddened by the passing of Iris Brite Porter on July 19, 2022, |
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at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Pleasanton on July 12, 1933, to Thomas and |
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Nora Brite, the former Iris Wilsie Brite grew up with the |
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companionship of four older siblings, Rita, Ralph, Bessie, and |
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Taylor; her father taught her that education was the key to success, |
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and through hard work and discipline, she was named valedictorian |
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of Pleasanton High School before graduating summa cum laude from |
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Texas State University in 1953; and |
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WHEREAS, The following year, she exchanged wedding vows with |
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Norman Porter, with whom she shared more than six decades of |
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marriage until his passing; she was a devoted mother to her son, |
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Norman, and also cherished her three grandchildren, her nine |
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great-grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews; and |
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WHEREAS, After teaching in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and |
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Bronte, Mrs. Porter returned to Pleasanton, where she became the |
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district's only special education teacher; she was later elevated |
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to the role of special education director, before starting and |
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directing a special education co-op of five school districts; she |
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was deeply dedicated to ensuring that all students with |
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disabilities were provided the support they needed and were treated |
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with respect and kindness; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1990, Mrs. Porter began a new chapter in her life |
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when she entered law school; she graduated from St. Mary's |
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University School of Law at the age of 60 and was chosen by her peers |
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to be the featured speaker at her graduation ceremony; from there, |
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she practiced law up until the date of her passing, and she earned a |
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reputation as a tough but caring advocate for her clients, most of |
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whom had nowhere else to turn for help; and |
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WHEREAS, Iris Brite Porter inspired many people through her |
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exemplary professional achievements and her fierce commitment to |
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the underserved, and she will long be remembered with affection and |
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admiration by all who had the good fortune to know her; 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 life of Iris Brite Porter and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her son, |
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Norman Porter, and his wife, Amy; to her grandchildren, Nolan Brite |
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Porter and his wife, Lisa, Erin Kathleen Porter Wells and her |
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husband, JJ, and Ross Shafer Porter and his wife, Estelle; to her |
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great-grandchildren, Miles, London, Noah, and Harlow Iris Porter, |
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Lake, Ruby, and Forrest Wells, and Evangeline and Charli Porter; |
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and to her other 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 her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Iris Brite |
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Porter. |