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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 Chief Steven Bryce Newkirk of the |
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San Saba Police Department on April 11, 2025, at the age of 52; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Dale and Gayle Newkirk, Steve Newkirk was |
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born in El Paso on July 9, 1972, and he grew up with the |
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companionship of a sister, Michelle; he attended Eastwood High |
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School, where he was a member of the rodeo club; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1990, Mr. Newkirk married Aundrea Rowe, and the |
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couple became the parents of three children, Megan, Tanner, and |
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Caitlyn; after that marriage ended, he wed the former Kristy Beth |
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Simmons in 2002, and they went on to share a fulfilling union that |
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spanned more than two decades; with the passing years, he had the |
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pleasure of seeing his family grow to include two more children, |
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Koren and Jayce, and five grandsons; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Newkirk began his career as a technician in |
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El Paso before relocating with his family to Huntsville to work for |
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the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a correctional officer |
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at the Texas State Penitentiary; in 1995, he followed in his |
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father's footsteps and embarked on a rewarding career with the |
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Lewisville Police Department, where he worked in the patrol, |
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motorcycle, and investigative units; he took great pride in serving |
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his community, and he concluded his tenure with the department in |
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2016; and |
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WHEREAS, Upon retirement, Mr. Newkirk moved with his family |
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to Lampasas, where he worked as a ranch foreman and fulfilled his |
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lifelong dream of owning land and raising livestock; in 2021, he |
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returned to law enforcement as an investigator for the San Saba |
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Police Department, and he was named its chief of police three years |
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later; in his leisure hours, he enjoyed playing the guitar and |
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sharing his passion for music with others, and he was also a skilled |
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metal worker; and |
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WHEREAS, Steve Newkirk treasured the time he spent in the |
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company of his family and friends, and those he leaves behind will |
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in turn cherish their memories of this kind and caring man; now, |
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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 Chief Steven Bryce |
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Newkirk and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Kristy Newkirk; to his children, Megan Shea |
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Warne and her husband, Stephen, Tanner Clay Newkirk and his wife, |
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Caitlin, Caitlyn Elizabeth Davis and her husband, Aidan, Koren |
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Adelle Newkirk, and Jayce Steven Newkirk; to his grandsons, Bowen, |
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Brooks, Baines, and Benny Warne and Wells Davis; to his parents, |
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Dale and Gayle Newkirk; to his sister, Michelle Newkirk and her |
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husband, Lex; and to his other relatives, his many friends, and his |
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brothers and sisters in blue; 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 Steve |
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Newkirk. |