| 1 | 1 | | 81R30940 MDM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Isett H.C.R. No. 270 |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Family and friends of Oliver Clark Thomas of Lubbock |
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| 7 | 7 | | were deeply saddened by his passing on December 16, 2008, at the age |
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| 8 | 8 | | of 94; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Soon after his birth in Hereford in 1914, he moved |
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| 10 | 10 | | with his parents to Greenville and later to Kaufman, where he |
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| 11 | 11 | | attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1930 and graduated from high |
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| 12 | 12 | | school two years later; he attended Southern Methodist University |
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| 13 | 13 | | and went on to earn a degree from Texas Tech University; and |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas joined the U.S. Army Air Forces one week |
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| 15 | 15 | | after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, became an |
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| 16 | 16 | | instructor at the Sheppard Field aircraft mechanics school in |
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| 17 | 17 | | Wichita Falls, and volunteered for the B-29 flight engineers |
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| 18 | 18 | | school; his plane was shot down during his 17th bombing mission over |
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| 19 | 19 | | Japan, and he spent time as a prisoner of war at Omori Prison Camp on |
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| 20 | 20 | | an island in Tokyo Bay until August 1945; from his hospital ship, he |
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| 21 | 21 | | witnessed the Japanese signing of the treaty of surrender on |
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| 22 | 22 | | September 2, 1945; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, For his meritorious service during World War II, he |
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| 24 | 24 | | was awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Prisoner |
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| 25 | 25 | | of War Medal, Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, and Unit Citation; |
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| 26 | 26 | | and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, On his return to the states, Mr. Thomas founded |
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| 28 | 28 | | Thomas Brothers Office Outfitters in Lubbock with his brother, |
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| 29 | 29 | | Hughes, which he operated until his retirement in 1991; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, He shared a fulfilling relationship with his wife, |
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| 31 | 31 | | the former Melba Watson, until the time of her passing in 1994; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, In addition to his contributions as a business |
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| 33 | 33 | | owner, Mr. Thomas was a member of the Texas Good Roads Association, |
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| 34 | 34 | | and he previously served as chair of the highways, streets, and |
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| 35 | 35 | | roads committee of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce; he was also a |
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| 36 | 36 | | member of the Rotary Club, First United Methodist Church, and Phi |
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| 37 | 37 | | Kappa Psi Fraternity; and |
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| 38 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Oliver Thomas lived a purposeful life of service to |
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| 39 | 39 | | his community, state, and nation, and he will be remembered with |
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| 40 | 40 | | deep affection by all who were fortunate enough to share in his love |
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| 41 | 41 | | and friendship; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 43 | 43 | | hereby pay tribute to the memory of Oliver Clark Thomas and extend |
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| 44 | 44 | | deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his stepson, |
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| 45 | 45 | | Dr. Ray Moore; to his sisters-in-law, Kay Fulton and Joyce Woods; |
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| 46 | 46 | | and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 48 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 49 | 49 | | Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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| 50 | 50 | | Oliver Clark Thomas. |
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