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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former state senator and representative Carl Allen |
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Parker of Port Arthur passed away on March 22, 2024, at the age of |
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89, bringing a great loss to his family, his friends, and his |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, A Port Arthur native, Carl Parker was born on |
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August 6, 1934, to Harvey and Juanita Parker, who encouraged him in |
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his educational and career ambitions; setting his sights on |
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becoming an attorney, he attended The University of Texas School of |
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Law; while in his final year at UT, he met the former Beverly |
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Stiegler, with whom he exchanged wedding vows in 1960; the couple |
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shared more than 64 years of marriage, and their cherished family |
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grew to include three children, Valerie, Chris, and Allen, and four |
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grandchildren, Andrew, Emma, Peyton, and Tripp; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Parker served as a judge advocate general in the |
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United States Navy before returning to Port Arthur and joining the |
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law firm of Long and Parker; at that practice, which later became |
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The Parker Law Firm, his specialties included criminal defense, |
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family law, personal injury, and business transactions, and he |
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enjoyed having the opportunity to use his legal expertise for the |
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benefit of his friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens in his |
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hometown; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1962, Mr. Parker was elected to the first of |
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eight terms in the Texas House of Representatives, and he again |
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returned to the statehouse when he won his first bid to the Texas |
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Senate in 1976; he was a champion for working people as well as a |
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staunch proponent of public safety, education, and environmental |
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protection; among a multitude of assignments, he served as chair of |
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the House committees on judicial districts and penitentiaries, and |
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he led the Senate committee on education as chair for five |
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consecutive legislative sessions; when debating fellow |
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legislators, he was always quick with a retort, but he was known to |
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cast aside his differences and join former rivals in enacting |
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measures that he considered worthy; his skill in building consensus |
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made him a highly effective lawmaker, and during the 1991 |
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legislative session, he secured the passage of a number of bills, |
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including legislation that provided school funding and that created |
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a new environmental superagency; and |
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WHEREAS, Senator Parker concluded his exceptional 32-year |
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tenure as a state legislator after his sixth term in the Senate in |
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1995, but he continued to volunteer his time with government |
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committees and groups that supported education and economic |
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development; he enjoyed spending his leisure time reading, |
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woodworking, and contributing op-eds to local newspapers, and he |
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authored an autobiography to share his experiences and insights |
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with family and friends; and |
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WHEREAS, Carl Parker dedicated his long legislative career to |
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advocating for his constituents and advancing the common good for |
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the State of Texas, and he leaves behind a legacy of public service |
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that will continue to inspire all those who had the good fortune to |
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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 pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Carl |
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Allen Parker and extend deepest sympathy to all those who mourn his |
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passing; 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 Carl |
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Parker. |