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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed member of the |
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Greatest Generation is truly cause for celebration, and Cecil V. |
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Newton of Highlands is marking this momentous milestone in his life |
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on March 5, 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Ruby and Jessie Newton in 1925, Cecil Newton |
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grew up on a farm in Highlands; he began working at Exxon at the age |
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of 18 but received his draft notice in September 1944; before |
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deploying as an infantryman in the U.S. Army, he married his |
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fiancée, the former Selma Ruth Waldrep; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Newton served in Germany with the 87th Division, |
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345th Platoon, Company E, 3rd Squad; after surviving combat at |
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Koblenz in Germany, he crossed the Rhine at Boppard under heavy fire |
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and helped clear out snipers; his company nearly reached Berlin by |
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VE Day and then proceeded to liberate concentration camps; |
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following demobilization, Mr. Newton remained in the reserve, and |
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over the years, he maintained warm friendships that he had formed |
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early in his service; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to Exxon in civilian life, Mr. Newton |
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became a journeyman machinist; he took advantage of the GI Bill to |
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complete his bachelor's degree cum laude at the University of |
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Houston in 1959; during a career that spanned more than four decades |
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with Exxon, he seized every opportunity to learn new things, |
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earning myriad certificates; his many accomplishments included two |
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patents, and he gained a reputation as an ace problem solver; he |
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rose to become a staff engineer in the Baytown Refinery's technical |
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division; in his free time, he earned his pilot's license; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Newton and his wife raised three children, Judy, |
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Richard, and Douglas, and through the years, their treasured family |
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has grown to include four grandchildren and many |
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great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; the Newtons |
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were active in Trinity Tabernacle Assembly of God Church, where for |
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nearly four decades Mr. Newton ran the sound systems and assisted |
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with radio broadcasts; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship |
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of 71 years until Mrs. Newton's passing in 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Cecil Newton has |
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inspired innumerable people through his courage, integrity, and |
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devotion to his family, and he continues to enrich the lives of all |
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who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Cecil V. Newton on the joyous |
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occasion of his 100th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Newton as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |