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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Henry S. Brown of San Antonio, a legendary figure in |
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| 6 | 7 | | the Texas labor movement, passed away on January 21, 2015, at the |
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| 7 | 8 | | age of 94, after a lifetime of distinguished achievement in behalf |
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| 8 | 9 | | of his fellow man; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Born on October 24, 1920, to Stan and Sophia Brown of |
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| 10 | 11 | | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "Hank" Brown fought for the values in |
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| 11 | 12 | | which he believed from an early age, leaving home to serve his |
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| 12 | 13 | | country as a member of the U.S. Army; he subsequently moved to San |
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| 13 | 14 | | Antonio, where he first became involved in a union as a plumber's |
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| 14 | 15 | | helper and then business agent with Local 142; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Driven by a concern for all working men and women, |
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| 16 | 17 | | Mr. Brown went on to join the Texas AFL-CIO and was named the |
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| 17 | 18 | | organization's president in 1961; a masterful orator and fierce |
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| 18 | 19 | | negotiator, he advocated for civil rights, helped craft an |
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| 19 | 20 | | important worker's compensation law for Texas, established the |
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| 20 | 21 | | Women's Activities Department, and created the United Labor |
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| 21 | 22 | | Legislative Committee; during his decade-long tenure as AFL-CIO |
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| 22 | 23 | | president, he also served on boards as an appointee of Presidents |
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| 23 | 24 | | John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, He left his position with the AFL-CIO to become the |
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| 25 | 26 | | vice president of public relations for the American Income Life |
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| 26 | 27 | | Insurance Company, but he remained extraordinarily active in labor |
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| 27 | 28 | | relations well into his nineties, promoting retiree councils, |
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| 28 | 29 | | inspiring others with his moving speeches, and participating in |
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| 29 | 30 | | AFL-CIO conventions; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Brown enjoyed the love |
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| 31 | 32 | | and support of his wife, the former Sophie Wegmann, with whom he |
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| 32 | 33 | | shared a rewarding marriage that spanned 70 years; the couple were |
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| 33 | 34 | | the proud parents of two sons, Henry and Gerald, and a daughter, |
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| 34 | 35 | | Sophie; and |
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| 35 | 36 | | WHEREAS, An unswerving leader, Hank Brown worked tirelessly |
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| 36 | 37 | | throughout his life to advance the cause of the Texas AFL-CIO and |
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| 37 | 38 | | the labor movement, and his contributions to aid working families |
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| 38 | 39 | | will continue to benefit residents of the Lone Star State for many |
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| 39 | 40 | | years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 41 | 42 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Hank Brown and |
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| 42 | 43 | | extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his sons, |
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| 43 | 44 | | Henry Brown Jr. and his wife, Judy, and Gerald Brown and his wife, |
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| 44 | 45 | | Merrilou; to his daughter, Sophie McCoy, and her husband, James; to |
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| 45 | 46 | | his brother, Ray Brown; to his 10 grandchildren and 15 |
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| 46 | 47 | | great-grandchildren; to his nieces and nephews; and to his other |
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| 47 | 48 | | relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 49 | 50 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 50 | 51 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Henry S. |
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| 51 | 52 | | Brown. |
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