H.R. No. 2642
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of United States Army Staff
Sergeant Eric Thomas Duckworth sustained a heavy loss with the
death of this courageous soldier in Iraq on October 10, 2007, at the
age of 26; and
WHEREAS, Assigned to the 759th Military Police Battalion,
89th Military Police Brigade, and based at Fort Carson, Colorado,
Sergeant Duckworth deployed to Iraq in August 2006 for a 15-month
tour of duty, during which he worked to train Iraqi police; he was
mortally wounded while leading a convoy in the city of Baghdad; and
WHEREAS, Eric Duckworth was born in Dallas on October 30,
1980, and grew up in Plano, where he played youth baseball and
football; he attended Plano East High School during his senior year
and graduated from Clear Lake High School in Houston in 1999; from
the time he was a boy, Sergeant Duckworth aspired to serve in both
the military and law enforcement, and he got an early start on his
career path in high school as a stellar member of the Army JROTC;
and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Duckworth enlisted in the armed forces at
the age of 18 and served initially in the infantry; during his eight
years in the military, he excelled at his work and won the deep
respect of his commanding officers and comrades for his consummate
professionalism, his even temperament and composure under stress,
and his unfailing readiness to lend a helping hand; admired for his
outstanding qualities as a soldier, he was no less treasured for the
warmth of his heart, his gift for friendship, and his cheerful,
infectious smile; and
WHEREAS, A passionate sports fan, Sergeant Duckworth was a
keen NASCAR enthusiast and yielded to no one in his devotion to the
Dallas Cowboys; and
WHEREAS, Above all, Eric Duckworth loved his wife, Sonya, his
stepdaughter, Kaylynn, and his children, Madison and Michael; and
WHEREAS, In his dedication to duty, honor, and this country,
Sergeant Eric Duckworth exemplified the highest ideals of the
United States armed forces, and those who were blessed to share in
the richness of his life will forever carry him close in their
hearts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Staff Sergeant Eric
Thomas Duckworth and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his
family: to his wife, Sonya Lynn Duckworth; to his children, Kaylynn
Cox and Madison and Michael Duckworth; to his mother, Ila
Duckworth; to his father and stepmother, Michael and Barbara
Duckworth; to his brother, Andrew Duckworth; and to his other
relatives and many friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of U.S. Army
Staff Sergeant Eric Thomas Duckworth.
McCall
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2642 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 27, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House