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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Northeast Texas are mourning the loss |
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of longtime state representative Barry Bradford Telford of De Kalb, |
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who passed away on June 1, 2024, at the age of 77; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in New Boston on October 24, 1946, Barry |
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Telford was the son of John Quincy Telford and Bertha Van Hooser |
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Telford; he married the former Marsha Cunningham on |
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September 3, 1966, and they were blessed with two children, Anna |
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Christina and John; after attending Texarkana Junior College, |
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Mr. Telford earned his bachelor's degree in education from North |
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Texas State University; he became owner and operator of a family |
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business, Telford Gas and Furniture; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1986, Mr. Telford was elected to the first of nine |
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terms in the Texas House of Representatives; he held a number of |
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leadership roles, including chair of the Calendars and the Pensions |
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and Investments Committees; committed to strengthening the state's |
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pension system, he was instrumental in improving benefits for state |
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employees and oversaw the Consumer Price Index Catch-Up Plan, a |
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significant legislative change that provided relief to public |
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education retirees impacted by inflation; he also advocated for |
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students and teachers and helped expand access to higher education |
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in Northeast Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Telford greatly benefited the state as chair of |
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the Select Committee on Rural Development; in addition, he worked |
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to improve the prison system, serving as vice chair of the |
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Corrections Committee and as chair of the Corrections Subcommittee |
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on Budget and Oversight; the Barry B. Telford Unit of the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice in New Boston was named in his honor; |
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he further served as co-chair of the Texas State Artist Committee, |
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and he was a member of numerous other committees, among them Human |
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Services, House Administration, and Judicial Affairs; a friend and |
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mentor to many, he was admired by legislators, staff, and the wider |
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Capitol community for his fair-mindedness and dedication, as well |
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as for his sense of humor; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement from the legislature in |
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2005, Mr. Telford continued to give generously of his time and |
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talents in behalf of his community; he belonged to the De Kalb |
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Masonic Lodge No. 9 and First United Methodist Church; a member of |
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the Maud Gun Club, he enjoyed skeet shooting and hunting; he was |
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also a voracious reader; and |
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WHEREAS, Barry Telford was a devoted public servant and an |
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effective champion for rural Texans, and although he is deeply |
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missed by those he left behind, his contributions will continue to |
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resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Barry Bradford |
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Telford and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Marsha Cunningham Telford; to his children, |
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Anna Christina Telford and her husband, Jason Cording, and John |
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Farris Telford and his wife, Molly Darden Telford; to his |
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grandchildren, Quincy Cole Telford, Zoe Kate Telford, and Gracie |
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Reese Telford; to his sisters-in-law, Lois Crim, Brenda Smith, and |
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Gay Cunningham; to his brother-in-law, Winston Cunningham; to his |
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nephews, Quincy Ellis Telford and Bradford Grey Telford; and to his |
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other relatives and friends; 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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Barry Telford. |