82R7145 BGU-D
By: McClendon H.R. No. 315
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Turner N. McGarity
was honored with a Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust
Award at a ceremony in San Antonio on January 30, 2011; and
WHEREAS, The Veterans Braintrust Award was established by
General Colin Powell in 1990 to recognize community service in the
interest of African American veterans; hundreds of outstanding
veterans, veteran supporters, and organizations have been honored
over the past 20 years; and
WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio in 1947, Sergeant Major McGarity
joined the U.S. Army in 1965; during the course of his exemplary
26-year military career, he served stateside in Louisiana, South
Carolina, Indiana, and Texas and saw duty overseas in Vietnam and
Germany; for his notable efforts, he was recognized with the Legion
of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation
Medal, and two Overseas Service Ribbons, as well as numerous other
decorations; he retired from the army in 1991; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan went on to serve as assistant
commandant of the corps of cadets at the Texas Military Institute
from 1993 to 2009; he has also played an active role in the Bexar
County Buffalo Soldiers Association, an organization that he now
leads as president, and officiated University Interscholastic
League basketball and football games for a quarter of a century; a
man of strong religious faith, he has been a member of Friendship
Baptist Church in San Antonio for 53 years, serving as president of
Usher Board No. 2 and the Joint Usher Board and as a member of the
Tape Ministry and the Repair Committee; and
WHEREAS, Turner McGarity and his wife, Barbara Ann, take
great pride in their family, which includes their children, Turner
and Tanice Nicole, their daughter-in-law, Jolene, and their
grandchildren, Anika, Tania, and Turner; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Major Turner McGarity's dedication to his
family, faith, and nation has truly enriched the lives of those
around him, and he is indeed worthy of this prestigious award; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Sergeant Major Turner N. McGarity
(Ret.) on his receipt of the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans
Braintrust Award and extend to him sincere best wishes for
continued success and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Sergeant Major McGarity as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.