H.R. No. 2689
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and remarkable life drew to a close with the
passing of acclaimed gospel singer George Beverly Shea on April 16,
2013, at the age of 104; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Shea was born on February 1, 1909, in
Winchester, Ontario, to the Reverend A. J. Shea and Maude Whitney
Shea; he grew up singing in his father's church and attended
Annesley College and Houghton College; after concluding his
studies, he took a job as a clerk and also worked in broadcasting,
later becoming an announcer and staff soloist at radio station WMBI
in Chicago; it was there that a young pastor named Billy Graham
asked him to sing on the radio program "Songs in the Night,"
beginning a professional collaboration between the two that would
ultimately span six decades; and
WHEREAS, In 1947, Mr. Shea traveled to Charlotte, North
Carolina, to sing in one of Reverend Graham's first citywide
crusades, and he went on to perform at events with the well-known
evangelist until the early 2000s; he was also a prolific recording
artist and composer who released over 70 albums of sacred music and
wrote such songs as "I'd Rather Have Jesus"; widely respected by his
peers, he received 10 Grammy nominations, a Grammy Award, and a
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, among a host of other accolades;
in addition, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall
of Fame, the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and the
Hall of Faith of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists;
and
WHEREAS, George Beverly Shea brought joy to innumerable
people by sharing his deep faith through song, and his recorded
legacy will remain a source of inspiration in the years to come;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of George Beverly Shea
and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
wife, Karlene Shea; to his son, Ronald Shea, and his wife, Kathy; to
his daughter, Elaine Anderson; to his granddaughter, Tamara
Anderson; to his brother, Alton Shea; to his sister, Ruth Willett;
to his stepchildren and their spouses, Steve and Fran Aceto and
Nanci and Jack Edwards; to his step-grandchildren and their
spouses, Ben and Tiffany Aceto and their children, Kylie Aceto and
Knox Hampton Aceto, Bill and Sallie Aceto, Matheson and Jeff White,
and Ellis Edwards; 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 George
Beverly Shea.
Hughes Toth Hughes Toth
Hughes Toth
Smithee Flynn Smithee Flynn
Smithee Flynn
Zedler Aycock Zedler Aycock
Zedler Aycock
Bell Bohac Bell Bohac
Bell Bohac
Burkett Cook Burkett Cook
Burkett Cook
Creighton Elkins Creighton Elkins
Creighton Elkins
Fletcher Frank Fletcher Frank
Fletcher Frank
Harper-Brown Keffer Harper-Brown Keffer
Harper-Brown Keffer
King of Hemphill King of Parker King of Hemphill King of Parker
King of Hemphill King of Parker
Klick Lavender Klick Lavender
Klick Lavender
Leach Miller of Fort Bend Leach Miller of Fort Bend
Leach Miller of Fort Bend
Orr Perry Orr Perry
Orr Perry
Phillips Riddle Phillips Riddle
Phillips Riddle
Sanford Schaefer Sanford Schaefer
Sanford Schaefer
Simmons Simpson Simmons Simpson
Simmons Simpson
Stickland Thompson of Brazoria Stickland Thompson of Brazoria
Stickland Thompson of Brazoria
Turner of Collin White Turner of Collin White
Turner of Collin White
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2689 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 24, 2013.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Hughes Toth
Smithee Flynn
Zedler Aycock
Bell Bohac
Burkett Cook
Creighton Elkins
Fletcher Frank
Harper-Brown Keffer
King of Hemphill King of Parker
Klick Lavender
Leach Miller of Fort Bend
Orr Perry
Phillips Riddle
Sanford Schaefer
Simmons Simpson
Stickland Thompson of Brazoria
Turner of Collin White