Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HJR0475 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
3	3
4	4	HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 475
5	5	By Clemmons
6	6
7	7
8	8	HJR0475
9	9	005846
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12	12	A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Colonel James Russell
13	13	Dismukes of Nashville.
14	14
15	15	WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly were greatly saddened to learn of
16	16	the passing of Colonel James Russell Dismukes; and
17	17	WHEREAS, Colonel Dismukes was an exemplary public servant and consummate
18	18	professional who worked assiduously to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens in
19	19	numerous capacities; and
20	20	WHEREAS, born on September 20, 1932, in Birmingham, Alabama, Colonel James
21	21	Russell Dismukes was the son of Colonel Roy Lloyd Dismukes and Mary Aileen Russell
22	22	Dismukes; and
23	23	WHEREAS, Colonel Jim Dismukes was raised in a family that instilled in him a deep
24	24	sense of duty and discipline; his father was an Army colonel, and his mother was an organist in
25	25	the church; and
26	26	WHEREAS, he attended C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento, California, and
27	27	graduated from the University of Alabama in 1955 and was commissioned as a second
28	28	lieutenant in the U.S. Army, embarking on a military career that would span nearly two decades;
29	29	and
30	30	WHEREAS, Colonel Dismukes distinguished himself as a leader and strategist during
31	31	his military service, when he was assigned to fill key positions both stateside and abroad; he
32	32	served in an advisory position in Vietnam and played a critical role in training and assisting
33	33	Allied Forces of over 18,000 troops under General Creighton William Abrams, Jr., who
34	34	commanded military operations in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972; and
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39	39	WHEREAS, Colonel Dismukes later commanded units within the 101
40	40	st
41	41	Airborne Division
42	42	and received a number of military honors and commendations for his service, including the
43	43	Bronze Star for Valor, the Legion of Merit, and the Combat Infantry Badge; and
44	44	WHEREAS, in the years leading up to his retirement in Jacksonville, Florida, he was
45	45	given the honor of top Army recruiter in the United States by United States Senator Lawton
46	46	Chiles; and
47	47	WHEREAS, Colonel Dismukes met the love of his life, Karen, on the tennis courts at
48	48	Middle Tennessee State University; the couple married in 1968 at the United Methodist Church
49	49	in Murfreesboro; and
50	50	WHEREAS, working side by side in their retail business, Jim and Karen Dismukes also
51	51	acquired real estate and restored three homes on the National Register of Historic Homes; they
52	52	later relocated to Nashville but remained members of the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly;
53	53	and
54	54	WHEREAS, after opening The Village Square and The French Shoppe 2 in
55	55	Murfreesboro, which later expanded to Nashville, the couple transformed retail by taking fashion
56	56	on the road, bringing their curated collections directly to customers in private showings; and
57	57	WHEREAS, an active part of his community, Colonel Dismukes shared his time and
58	58	talents in support of a number of charitable efforts, including Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and
59	59	the Dupont Country Club's Autism Foundation; and
60	60	WHEREAS, Colonel Dismukes was also deeply devoted to his family, and he always
61	61	endeavored to remain true to family values of the highest order; and
62	62	WHEREAS, a loving husband, devoted father, and doting grandfather, he is survived by
63	63	his wife, Karen Elrod Dismukes; daughters, Tara Dismukes (Ben) Wegdam and Karen Aileen
64	64	Dismukes (William) Cooper; son, James Russell (Christy) Dismukes II; grandchildren, Kiki
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69	69	Wegdam, Paris Wegdam, Ben Wegdam, Jr., Willis Cooper, Constance Cooper, James Russell
70	70	Dismukes III, and Lana Dismukes; and
71	71	WHEREAS, he will be sadly mourned but fondly remembered by his brothers and
72	72	sisters-in-law, Cecil (Tommye) Elrod III, Susan (George) Creagh, Beth (Roscoe) Scofield, and
73	73	David Elrod (Nancy Burns); cousin, Margaret (Jed) Hendrick; and a host of extended family,
74	74	dear friends, and admirers; and
75	75	WHEREAS, in addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his father- and
76	76	mother-in-law, Cecil Elrod, Jr., and Betty Elrod; and his uncle, Homer (Linda) Russell; and
77	77	WHEREAS, Colonel Dismukes leaves behind an indelible legacy of integrity and probity
78	78	in public life, compassion and loyalty in private life, and diligence and dedication in all his
79	79	chosen endeavors; and
80	80	WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should pause to
81	81	remember the bountiful life of this exceptional public servant and human being; now, therefore,
82	82	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
83	83	FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
84	84	CONCURRING, that we honor the memory of Colonel James Russell Dismukes, reflecting
85	85	fondly upon his impeccable character and his stalwart commitment to living the examined life
86	86	with courage and conviction.
87	87	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
88	88	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
89	89	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
90	90	without House or Senate designation.