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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Neil Stewart West of Tyler on May 1, 2025, at the age of |
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79; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of James Clyde West and Edith Shearer West, |
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Neil West was born in Denver, Colorado, on August 6, 1945, and he |
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grew up in Magnolia, Arkansas, with the companionship of his older |
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brother, Don; he graduated from high school in 1963, and he went on |
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to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration from the |
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University of Arkansas, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC, |
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and a master's degree in business administration from the |
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University of Nebraska; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. West served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force |
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at Offutt Air Force Base for four years; he eventually obtained his |
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pilot's license and instrument rating and was a private pilot for |
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more than four decades; after resigning his Air Force commission, |
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he embarked on a 34-year career in banking in 1972, serving as a |
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commercial lending officer and then vice president of Omaha |
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National Bank, as a receiver for the Commonwealth Bank of Lincoln, |
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Nebraska, and as the CEO and president of The Security National Bank |
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and Trust Company of Norman in Oklahoma; he took on his final role |
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as CEO and Regions Bank Texas Group president and moved to Tyler in |
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1993; at the time of his retirement in 2006, he was group president |
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of 81 locations across Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, An active member of his community, Mr. West gave |
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generously of his time and talents to numerous organizations |
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through the years, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and the |
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Rotary Club, and he also served as an adjunct professor at the |
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University of Oklahoma and as a member of the Soules College of |
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Business Advisory Board at UT Tyler; in his leisure time, he enjoyed |
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traveling, boating, and fishing, as well as cheering on the Dallas |
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Stars and playing softball, basketball, tennis, and golf; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. West benefited from the |
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love and support of his wife, Joan, with whom he shared a rewarding |
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marriage that spanned 45 years; he took great pride in his four |
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children, Stacey West Brandt, Rebecca West, Stacey Henry West, and |
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Paul West, and he had the pleasure of welcoming into his family |
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seven grandchildren, Nicholas, Mitchell, Jacob, Vivian, Hayden, |
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Ethan, and Benjamin; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired for his devotion to his family, his |
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generosity of spirit, and his joyous zest for life, Neil West |
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enriched the lives of all who knew him, and they will forever hold |
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him close in their hearts; 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 memory of Neil Stewart West and extend |
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heartfelt condolences to all who mourn his passing; and, be it |
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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 Neil West. |