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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 Joel Dean Johnson of Longview on March 24, 2025, at the |
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age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Everett Rufus Johnson and Mary Lou Baker |
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Johnson, Joel Johnson was born in Teaselville, near Tyler, on |
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September 28, 1936; he grew up with four siblings, Shirley, Rita, |
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Kent, and Marsha; in the 1960s, he served in the Navy Reserve, |
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training aboard the USS Willett; he began working in the retail shoe |
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business at an early age, and he eventually owned 13 shoe stores in |
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partnership with Regan's Smart Fashions; after some two decades, he |
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joined the Genesco Shoe Corporation, selling shoes to major and |
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independent department stores across the South; he later served as |
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a business consultant and helped many entrepreneurs get their start |
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through the small-business program at Kilgore College, where he |
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also taught marketing courses; and |
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WHEREAS, A gifted musician, Mr. Johnson taught himself |
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guitar and piano, and as a singer-songwriter, he released several |
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records on his own label, Camille Records; local radio stations |
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gave regular airplay to his tracks, such as "Teaselville," "Sue Why |
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Don't You Love Me," and "Twenty-Four Windows"; he also assisted |
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several area country artists as a producer and promoter; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was a man of many talents and took |
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pleasure in exploring new interests; he became a sketch artist and |
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painter, and he authored a number of books, among them The American |
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Dream Is Success in a Business of Your Own and The Power of |
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Self-Imaging; in addition, he was deeply involved in community |
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service as a member of the Rotary Club of Longview, Ambucs, Longview |
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Youth Mentorship, and various charitable organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Johnson enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife of 67 years, Camille Louise Johnson, until |
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her passing in 2023; they were blessed with four children, George, |
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Pamela, John, and Stacy, and the family later grew to include nine |
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grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Joel Johnson is deeply missed, he has left |
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his loved ones with a wealth of memories that they will forever |
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treasure; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature, 1st |
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Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of Joel Dean Johnson |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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children, George Everett Ricky Johnson and his wife, Donna, Pamela |
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Sue Johnson Woolley, John Randall Johnson and his wife, Sheryl, and |
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Stacy Adell Johnson Patterson and her husband, Royce; to his |
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grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives |
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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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Joel Johnson. |