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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Harold |
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James Hardcastle of Vernon, who passed away on April 9, 2025, at the |
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age of 93; and |
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WHEREAS, Harold Hardcastle was born to Verna Bailey and Joe |
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Smith Hardcastle on August 18, 1931, in Wheeler and grew up sharing |
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in the companionship of four siblings, Jo Ann, Donald, Danny, and |
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Gary; after marrying Patsy Ruth Noah in 1949, he moved with his wife |
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to College Station and earned a degree in entomology from Texas A&M |
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University; he subsequently answered his nation's call to duty, |
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serving with the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps in Georgia and San |
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Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle were blessed with three |
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children, Melinda, Richard, and Philip; Mr. Hardcastle worked in |
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sales at Stauffer Agricultural Chemicals in Sherman and then for |
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the American Dusting Company as an independent aerial spraying |
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contractor in Lockett; becoming the sole owner, he renamed the |
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business Hardcastle Ag Air, Inc., and opened a second location in |
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Oklahoma before selling the company in 1997; he and his son Rick |
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later owned and operated Rolling H Cattle Company; and |
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WHEREAS, Engaged in his professional community, |
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Mr. Hardcastle served as president of both the National and Texas |
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Agricultural Aviation Associations and held membership in the Texas & |
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Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; moreover, he was |
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president of the Rotary Club of Vernon and a member of the Vernon |
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Independent School District Board of Trustees; a valued congregant |
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of First Methodist Church, he taught Sunday school and served as |
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chair of the administrative board, finance committee, and personnel |
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committee; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his wife's passing in 1995, |
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Mr. Hardcastle became reacquainted with a former classmate, |
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Dr. Peggy Jo Pletcher, whom he wed in 2000; together, they created a |
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blended family that included Mr. Hardcastle's stepchildren, |
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George, David, and Robert, and grandchildren, Christie, Amy, Aaron, |
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Kelley, Morgan, Ria, Daniel, and Cayce, as well as his 10 |
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step-grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share in this esteemed |
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man's love and friendship will always remember him with great |
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admiration and affection; 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 memory of Harold James |
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Hardcastle and extend heartfelt sympathy to all 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 Harold |
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Hardcastle. |