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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Dr. J. Carl Norris Jr. of Mineola on January 6, 2024, at |
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the age of 100; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Gertrude Norris and Julius Norris |
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Sr., J. C. Norris was born in Arkansas on July 18, 1923; he was |
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salutatorian of his high school class in Atlanta, Texas, and he |
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attended the College of Marshall, which eventually became East |
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Texas Baptist University; while serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps |
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during World War II, he was badly injured in a plane crash; he |
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endured a long recovery and went on to graduate as valedictorian of |
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Southern College of Optometry in 1945; after establishing his |
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practice in Mineola, he treated patients for 45 years and helped |
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build what is now Mineola Eyecare; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Norris further benefited his community in many |
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leadership positions, including school board trustee and member of |
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the boards of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce and First National |
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Bank; in addition, he was a member of the ETBU Board of Trustees and |
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Advisory Board; he also served on the Mineola City Council, and he |
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was later elected mayor as one of the youngest individuals to do so |
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in the city's history; following his retirement, he contributed his |
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time and talents to the board of the Meredith Foundation for more |
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than two decades and led the organization as chair; he was an active |
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congregant of First Baptist Church of Mineola and held a variety of |
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roles, from Sunday school teacher and chair of the deacons to member |
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of the long-range planning and building steering committees; among |
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his many accolades, he received the 1981 Mineola Rotary Man of the |
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Year Award and the chamber of commerce's Distinguished Citizen |
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Award for a lifetime of service; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Norris shared a fulfilling 78-year marriage |
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with his wife, Charm, until her passing in 2020; the couple enjoyed |
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traveling together and visited six continents; a devoted family |
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man, he took great pride in their daughters, Suzanne and Patricia, |
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their grandchildren, Melissa, Jennifer, Blair, and Brooke, and |
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their great-grandchildren, Zachary, Andrew, Titus, and Hugo; he |
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brightened the days of those around him with his kindness and keen |
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sense of humor; an avid reader, he kept up with current events in |
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newspapers; and |
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WHEREAS, J. C. Norris inspired innumerable people through |
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his dedication to his family, his faith, and his community, and he |
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is remembered with admiration and affection by all who were |
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fortunate enough to know him; 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 Dr. J. Carl Norris Jr. and extend |
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sincere sympathy to all who mourn his 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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Dr. J. C. Norris. |