| 2 | 3 | | |
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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The citizens of Jacksonville lost an admired |
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| 6 | 7 | | community leader and friend with the passing of Mayor Kenneth |
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| 7 | 8 | | Melvin on December 2, 2014, at the age of 74; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Melvin was born in Lindale on May 8, 1940, to |
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| 9 | 10 | | Cosby Ray and Ocie Algerine Melvin; he graduated from Lindale High |
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| 10 | 11 | | School and went on to attend Tyler Junior College, The University of |
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| 11 | 12 | | Texas at Tyler, and Dallas Business School; on May 28, 1959, he |
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| 12 | 13 | | married Fredia Nell Glaze, and they shared more than 55 years |
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| 13 | 14 | | together while lovingly raising a daughter, Ginger; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, This lifelong Texan started his career as an |
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| 15 | 16 | | assistant manager and manager for various retailers in East Texas; |
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| 16 | 17 | | in 1969, he opened his own grocery business, which he sold in 1977 |
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| 17 | 18 | | when he began employment with Southwestern Electric Service Company |
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| 18 | 19 | | in Jacksonville; following 32 years of service, he retired from his |
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| 19 | 20 | | position as comptroller of the company's business department; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, After completing a training class in Hot Springs, |
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| 21 | 22 | | Arkansas, in 1970, Mr. Melvin also enjoyed work as a professional |
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| 22 | 23 | | square dance caller; he performed this role at the Jack & Jill Dance |
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| 23 | 24 | | Club in Jacksonville and numerous other dance halls around Texas, |
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| 24 | 25 | | and he was a guest caller for clubs as far away as Canada and Cancún; |
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| 25 | 26 | | moreover, he served his peers in a number of offices, including |
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| 26 | 27 | | president of the East Texas Callers Association and vice president |
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| 27 | 28 | | of the Texas State Callers' Association, and he was the featured |
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| 28 | 29 | | caller at several state festivals; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Melvin's interest in civic affairs led him to |
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| 30 | 31 | | join the Jacksonville City Council in 2005; he was elected mayor in |
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| 31 | 32 | | 2011, and he held that office until the time of his passing; during |
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| 32 | 33 | | his tenure with the city, he worked to encourage cooperation in |
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| 33 | 34 | | efforts to better the community for all residents, and his business |
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| 34 | 35 | | acumen and attention to detail were appreciated by those on the |
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| 35 | 36 | | council who had the pleasure of working with him; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, In addition to his professional accomplishments, |
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| 37 | 38 | | Mayor Melvin volunteered for more than a decade with Hospice of East |
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| 38 | 39 | | Texas; he was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in |
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| 39 | 40 | | Jacksonville; and |
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| 40 | 41 | | WHEREAS, Held in high esteem by all who knew him, Kenneth |
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| 41 | 42 | | Melvin built a life that was rich in family, friends, and meaningful |
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| 42 | 43 | | achievements, and he will be fondly remembered and deeply missed; |
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| 43 | 44 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable |
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| 46 | 47 | | Kenneth Melvin and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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| 47 | 48 | | family: to his wife, Fredia Nell Glaze Melvin; to his daughter, |
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| 48 | 49 | | Ginger Nell Melvin Mees; to his grandchildren, Benjamin Joseph Mees |
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| 49 | 50 | | and his wife, Sammie Jo, Andrew Brady Melvin, and Melody Kay Melvin; |
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| 50 | 51 | | to his great-grandson, Brady James Mees; to his siblings, Martha |
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| 51 | 52 | | Rae Phillips and Douglas and Joe Melvin; and to his other relatives |
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| 52 | 53 | | and friends; and, be it further |
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| 53 | 54 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 54 | 55 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 55 | 56 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Kenneth |
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| 56 | 57 | | Melvin. |
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