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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Diana Destine Sandefer Denman, widely admired as |
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"the godmother of the Texas GOP," passed away on April 17, 2025, at |
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the age of 91; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Gilbert and Inez Sandefer, the |
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former Diana Sandefer was born in Abilene on February 20, 1934; she |
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graduated from George Washington University and embarked on a |
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career as a model and actor; her equestrian skills won her parts in |
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Western movies, and while filming a commercial, she met her first |
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husband, Donald J. Dolen; they became the parents of a daughter, |
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Destine; following the untimely death of Mr. Dolen, she was |
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fortunate enough to find love a second time with Leroy G. Denman |
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Jr.; they married in 1972 and collaborated closely in ranching, |
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wildlife conservation, historical preservation, and philanthropy |
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until his death in 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Denman played a key role in making Texas a |
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Republican stronghold; having helped found the Young Conservatives |
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of Texas, she served for many years on its board of advisors; she |
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first voted for Ronald Reagan, when he ran for president of the |
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Screen Actors Guild, and sharing his commitment to victory in the |
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Cold War, she championed his rise to the presidency; during his |
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administration, she served in such roles as co-chair of the Peace |
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Corps, election observer, and member of the National Museum |
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Services Board; a mentor to countless younger conservatives, she |
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was instrumental in many successful campaigns; moreover, she was |
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very active in such influential organizations as the Center for |
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Security Policy and the Philadelphia Society, which presented her |
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with its highest honor, the Baron Award, in 2022; and |
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WHEREAS, Intensely patriotic, Mrs. Denman was a strong |
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supporter of the U.S. armed forces, serving on the board of visitors |
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of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation and on |
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the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, as well as |
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the U.S. Service Academy Nominations Board; her hospitality and |
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generosity toward local service members in the San Antonio area won |
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her recognition as a charter member of the Fort Sam Houston |
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Distinguished Quartermasters; in all her endeavors, she drew |
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strength from her Baptist faith; and |
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WHEREAS, Diana Denman gave freely of her time and talents to |
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benefit her community, state, and country, and her contributions |
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will continue to resonate for years to come; 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 Diana Destine |
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Sandefer Denman and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her |
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family: to her daughter, Destine Denman Holmgreen; to her |
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grandsons, Austin and Travis Holmgreen; and to her other relatives |
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and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Diana |
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Denman. |