H.C.R. No. 7
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to
a close with the passing of William Douglas Jefferson of San Antonio
on June 26, 2013, at the age of 81; and
WHEREAS, Born in Chicago on January 30, 1932, Bill Jefferson
was the son of William and Johnnie Mae Jefferson; the hardships of
the Great Depression prompted the family to move to Milwaukee
during his childhood, and he later attended the University of
Wisconsin, where he was a member of the football team; he left
college to enlist in the United States Air Force during the Korean
War, beginning a military career that ultimately spanned more than
two decades; he was promoted to technical sergeant within four
years and went on to join the officer ranks; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jefferson met his future wife, Joyce Virginia
Olivier, when he was a teenager, and he corresponded with her
regularly from postings around the world; in July 1954, he used his
leave to fly to Buffalo, New York, to see her, and they married two
weeks later; the couple became the proud parents of six children,
Roxanne, Darrell, Lamont, Celeste, Wallace, and Leah; and
WHEREAS, During his years in uniform, Mr. Jefferson was
stationed in England, Japan, and Guam as well as in Colorado, New
Mexico, Nebraska, Massachusetts, California, and Washington; while
excelling in his military duties, he found time to complete his
bachelor's degree at the University of Puget Sound in 1962 and to
earn his master's degree in political science from St. Mary's
University eight years later; he retired at the rank of major in
1972 and then became a certified life underwriter and chartered
financial planner for Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company; he
also taught political science as an adjunct professor at St.
Philip's College and San Antonio College; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan advocated powerfully for the
responsibilities of citizenship in a letter published in Time
magazine in 1968, and he embraced those obligations wholeheartedly
throughout his life; he volunteered with the Salvation Army for
decades and served on the board of St. Peter-St. Joseph Children's
Home, and he was a longtime member of the Friends of the San Antonio
Public Library; a devout Catholic, he was a Eucharistic minister at
Freedom Chapel at Lackland Air Force Base for more than 40 years;
and
WHEREAS, In his free time, Mr. Jefferson enjoyed pursuing
genealogical studies; he discovered that one of his ancestors,
Shedrick Willis, was enslaved to a state court judge in Waco in the
1800s, and he marveled at the irony that one of his own sons,
Wallace B. Jefferson, became chief justice of the Supreme Court of
Texas; and
WHEREAS, Bill Jefferson brought joy to innumerable people
through his warm smile and gentle, caring ways; although he will be
deeply missed, those who were privileged to know him will continue
to find inspiration in their memories of his profound devotion to
his family, his faith, and his country; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas,
2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of William
Douglas Jefferson and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his
family: to his wife, Joyce Jefferson; to his children, Roxanne
Jones, Darrell Jefferson, Lamont Jefferson, Chief Justice Wallace
Jefferson, and Leah Chapa; to his grandchildren and
great-grandchildren; to his sister, Ollie Price; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
William Douglas Jefferson.
Larson
Price
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 7 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on July 11, 2013.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 7 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the Senate on July 19, 2013.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas