H.R. No. 142
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and generous life came to an end with the
passing of Dr. Billy Jim "Doc" Blankenship of Corpus Christi, who
died on October 22, 2010, at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, A fifth-generation Texan, Billy J. Blankenship was
born in Longview on February 13, 1928, to John Oscar and Jimmie
Sunshine Blankenship; he grew up in Mineola, where he was a member
of the Boy Scouts and lettered in track and football; he
demonstrated his extraordinary spirit at an early age, as he
rescued an elderly woman from her burning house and was recommended
for a Carnegie Medal for Heroism; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Polytechnic High School in
Fort Worth at the age of 16, Mr. Blankenship entered North Texas
Agricultural College and joined the Reserve Officers' Training
Corps; he enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marine at 17, and a year
later transferred to the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific for two
years; after his military service, he returned to the merchant
marine, sailing around the world five times before the age of 21;
and
WHEREAS, In 1951, Mr. Blankenship resumed his education,
earning two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree from Stephen F.
Austin State College; during his college years, he was joined in
matrimony to the former Carolyn Keeling, and they enjoyed a
fulfilling relationship that endured until his death and were the
parents of three daughters, Roberta, Jimmie, and Jean; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Blankenship received his dental degree from The
University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston in 1958, and in 1963 he
earned his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical
Branch in Galveston, with a specialty in oral and maxillofacial
surgery; during the course of a long and successful career, he
worked on the staffs of 40 hospitals and published 150 scientific
articles; he taught full-time and part-time for a total of 21 years,
and he retired as a professor of surgery from The University of
Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio; and
WHEREAS, This patriotic American dedicated much of his life
to his work as a military doctor, starting with service as a dental
officer with the U.S. Naval Reserve and the U.S. Marine Corps
Reserve; he later became a battalion surgeon for the USMCR, and in
1966 he volunteered for service in Vietnam, where he was wounded in
combat; after working as a flight surgeon for the U.S. Air Force
Reserve, he returned to active duty in the navy in 1974, serving as
medical officer on submarines, division surgeon for the Marines on
Okinawa, director of clinical services at the Naval Hospital in
Corpus Christi, and senior naval medical officer with the European
Command of the U.S. Army, among other postings; he retired from the
navy at the rank of captain; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Blankenship's outstanding service to his
country was recognized with 55 military decorations, including the
Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, and the Navy and Marine Corps
Medal; he was also the recipient of a certificate of appreciation
from the U.S. Department of State, a postdoctoral fellowship from
the U.S. Public Health Service, and a certificate of humanitarian
service from the American Heart Association; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic individual also found time to
participate in a number of commercial enterprises over the years,
including farming and ranching, the oil and gas industry, real
estate, and the restaurant business, among many others; he was a
trained pilot, deep-sea diver, and parachutist, and he visited all
50 states and 90 foreign countries, including three tours as a
medical missionary in Central America; in retirement, he became a
beloved member of the Padre Island community; and
WHEREAS, "Doc" Blankenship lived a life of high adventure and
extraordinary achievement, and throughout all his travels, he
dedicated himself to the relief of suffering and the service of his
nation, enjoying the love and support of his family and earning the
deep and lasting respect of all who knew him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Billy Jim
Blankenship and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
family: to his wife of 58 years, Carolyn Blankenship; to his
daughters, Roberta Soward and her husband, Fred, and Jean Ann
Paluseo and her husband, Jeff; to his grandchildren, Jackson
Soward, Cassidy Soward, Jayden Paluseo, Journey Paluseo, and Jazlyn
Paluseo; and to his other relatives and 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 Dr. Billy
Jim Blankenship.
Hunter
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 142 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on February 24, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House