SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 799 In Memory of Homer W. Lear WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and commemorates the life of Colonel Homer W. Lear, United States Air Force, retired, who died September 23, 2012, at the age of 92; and WHEREAS, Homer Lear was born August 12, 1920, in Oil Hill, Kansas; he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane Griggs, in 1942, and they shared 69 years together; they raised two children, Steven and Rebecca, and they were blessed with five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and WHEREAS, Homer Lear was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program as a young man and received his commission in 1941; he flew B-17 and B-29 bombers during World War II and served as an aircraft commander in the 19th Bomb Group on Guam, and after the war, he served for 23 years in the Strategic Air Command and at the Pentagon; he was involved in the activation of the first boom type air-to-air refueling unit in 1949, and he was also chosen to escort Charles Lindbergh on a tour of Strategic Air Command bases; and WHEREAS, After his retirement from military service, Colonel Lear worked for the Weyerhaeuser Company and the International Executive Service Corps; and WHEREAS, He was active in the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, serving as speaker emeritus and as chairman of the State Affairs Committee; he was appointed to the White House Conference on Aging in 1995 and 2005 and was elected to the first National Silver-Haired Congress; and WHEREAS, He served the San Antonio community as a Bexar County election judge and as a member of the board of directors of the Air Force Villages, and he was an active member of the Rotary Club; and WHEREAS, A man of courage, integrity, and strength, he gave unselfishly to others, and his patriotism and service to his country will not be forgotten; and WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured forever by his family and many friends; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Homer W. Lear; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Homer W. Lear. Lucio ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 30, 2013, by a rising vote. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate