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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 Pastor David Orlo Dykes of Tyler on |
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July 2, 2025, at the age of 72; and |
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WHEREAS, David Dykes was born in Ruston, Louisiana, on |
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January 16, 1953, and he grew up in southern Alabama; he devoted |
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himself to his Christian faith at an early age and began preaching |
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in 1970 at the age of 17; he attended Samford University before |
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earning a master's degree in divinity and a doctorate of ministry |
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from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he later |
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completed a postdoctoral study at the University of Cambridge; and |
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WHEREAS, Pastor Dykes shared a fulfilling 51-year union with |
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his wife, Cindy; he took great pride in his two daughters, Jennifer |
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and Laura Grace, and with the passing years, he had the pleasure of |
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seeing his treasured family grow to include five grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his early career, Pastor Dykes served as |
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senior pastor of three Alabama churches, Tallaweka Baptist Church, |
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First Baptist Church Oneonta, and Gardendale First Baptist Church; |
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in 1991, he was named senior pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church in |
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Tyler, and over the course of his distinguished three-decade |
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tenure, membership grew from 9,000 to 17,000; along the way, he led |
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mission teams to more than 30 countries, trained pastors around the |
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world, and published over 20 books; after retiring from Green Acres |
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Baptist Church in 2021, he served the congregation as pastor |
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emeritus; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his many commendable efforts, |
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Pastor Dykes was awarded the M. E. Dodd Denominational Service |
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Award by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2008, the Alumnus of the |
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Year Award by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021, |
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and the inaugural David Dykes Servant Leadership Award by East |
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Texas Baptist University in 2024, and he received an honorary |
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doctorate from East Texas Baptist University; in his leisure hours, |
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he enjoyed playing golf and traveling the world, and he led more |
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than two dozen tours through Israel with his wife; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply dedicated to his family, his faith, and his |
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community, David Dykes earned the lasting respect and admiration of |
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all who were privileged to know him; 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 Pastor David Orlo |
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Dykes and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his wife, Cindy Dykes; to his daughters, Jennifer Holman and |
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Laura Grace Dykes; to his sons-in-law, Jason Holman and Joseph |
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Provencher; to his grandchildren, Lizzie, Caroline, and Grant |
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Holman, Ada Liner, and Samuel Provencher; to his siblings, Judy |
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Kapa and Daniel Dykes; and to his other relatives and friends; 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 his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of David Dykes. |