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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 on May 3, |
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2024, with the passing of Clyde Vance Dunnam of Waco at the age of |
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94; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Waco on November 6, 1929, Vance Dunnam grew |
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up in Speegleville and graduated from Waco High School; he earned |
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his bachelor's degree from Baylor University in 1951 and his juris |
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doctor degree from Baylor Law School the following year; and |
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WHEREAS, After obtaining his admission to the bar and a short |
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stint working for a Houston oil company, Mr. Dunnam joined his |
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father and brother at Dunnam & Dunnam, LLP, where he worked for |
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seven decades; over the course of his career, he earned a reputation |
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as one of the most skilled and successful trial attorneys in Central |
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Texas; he served as a mentor to hundreds of colleagues and further |
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contributed to his professional community as president of the |
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McLennan County Junior Bar Association and the Waco-McLennan County |
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Bar Association; through the years, he had the pleasure of |
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practicing with a number of family members, and he worked up until |
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the last weeks of his life; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1952, Mr. Dunnam married Vicki Hohertz, and they |
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shared in the joy of raising three children, Vance, Cathy, and Jim; |
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after his wife's death in 1995, he found love again with Merrilee |
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Lafferty Harmon, whom he wed in 1997; with the passing years, he |
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delighted in watching his cherished family grow to include numerous |
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grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Dunnam held leadership |
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positions in several organizations, including the Scottish Rite, |
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the York Rite, and the Karem Shrine as well as the Waco Jaycees and |
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the Knights of Pythias; he was also a man of faith and a lifelong |
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member of the Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for |
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many years; in his leisure time, he enjoyed cattle and hay ranching, |
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sailing, riding his motorcycle, fly-fishing, beekeeping, hunting, |
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and any time that he could spend with his children and |
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grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dunnam especially took pride in the history and |
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success of Dunnam & Dunnam, LLP, where he worked for most of his |
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career, even up until a few weeks before his passing, and he truly |
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loved the fact that he successfully instilled the same pride in his |
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children and grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dunnam could not have been more loyal to his |
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lifelong friends and employees, no matter their politics, race, or |
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religion; in addition, he also worked tirelessly to mend all fences |
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with those who might have become estranged; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Vance Dunnam is deeply missed, memories of |
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his wisdom, his sense of humor, and his generosity remain to comfort |
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and inspire those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Clyde Vance Dunnam and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Merrilee L. Harmon; to his children, Vance Dunnam Jr. and his wife, |
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Irma, Cathy Dunnam Pleitz and her husband, Dan, and Jim Dunnam and |
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his wife, Michelle; to his grandchildren, Vanessa, Jennifer, |
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Stephanie, Joshua, Jacob, Jordan, Lauren, Mason, and Rachel; to his |
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12 great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; |
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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 Vance |
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Dunnam. |