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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 Honorable Ralph M. Hall concluded his remarkable |
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| 6 | 7 | | tenure in the United States House of Representatives in January |
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| 7 | 8 | | 2015, having served with distinction in the U.S. Congress for 34 |
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| 8 | 9 | | years; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, One of the longest serving members of the house, |
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| 10 | 11 | | Congressman Hall was first elected in 1980; he greatly benefited |
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| 11 | 12 | | his constituents through his tremendous dedication, and he earned a |
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| 12 | 13 | | well-deserved reputation in Congress as an effective legislator and |
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| 13 | 14 | | a statesman; the admired dean of the Texas delegation, he became the |
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| 14 | 15 | | oldest serving member in the history of the house on December 25, |
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| 15 | 16 | | 2012; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, This notable Texan served on the House Committee on |
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| 17 | 18 | | Science, Space, and Technology from the very beginning of his |
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| 18 | 19 | | congressional career, and he became its chair in 2011; in this role, |
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| 19 | 20 | | he worked to maintain the nation's preeminence in space, expand |
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| 20 | 21 | | energy resources, and promote science and technology research, |
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| 21 | 22 | | development, and education; moreover, he sought to ensure that |
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| 22 | 23 | | federal regulations were based on a solid scientific foundation; he |
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| 23 | 24 | | was named chair emeritus of the committee at the beginning of the |
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| 24 | 25 | | 113th Congress, and he also served on the Energy and Commerce |
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| 25 | 26 | | Committee, the Energy and Power Subcommittee, and the Environment |
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| 26 | 27 | | and the Economy Subcommittee; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Deeply committed to public service, Congressman |
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| 28 | 29 | | Hall served as county judge of Rockwall County from 1950 to 1962, |
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| 29 | 30 | | and he was president of the State Judges and Commissioners |
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| 30 | 31 | | Association; in 1962, he won election to the Texas Senate, and he |
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| 31 | 32 | | served that body as president pro tempore from 1968 to 1969; and |
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| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Ralph Hall was born in Fate in Rockwall County; |
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| 33 | 34 | | coming of age during World War II, he joined the United States Navy |
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| 34 | 35 | | and served as an aircraft carrier pilot from 1942 to 1945; after the |
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| 35 | 36 | | war, he completed his law degree at Southern Methodist University, |
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| 36 | 37 | | and he maintained a private law practice for many years; |
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| 37 | 38 | | additionally, he has been very active in the Rockwall business |
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| 38 | 39 | | community as president and chief executive officer of Texas |
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| 39 | 40 | | Aluminum Corporation, general counsel of Texas Extrusion Company, |
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| 40 | 41 | | and chair of Lakeside News; he was a founding member of Lakeside |
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| 41 | 42 | | National Bank and continues to serve as its chair; and |
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| 42 | 43 | | WHEREAS, Throughout his long record of public service, Ralph |
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| 43 | 44 | | Hall has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to his fellow |
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| 44 | 45 | | citizens, and although his colleagues in Washington, D.C., will |
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| 45 | 46 | | surely miss his wise counsel and wonderful sense of humor, his |
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| 46 | 47 | | outstanding leadership in Congress has made a lasting, positive |
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| 47 | 48 | | impact in the Lone Star State and in our nation; now, therefore, be |
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| 48 | 49 | | it |
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| 49 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 50 | 51 | | Legislature hereby recognize the Honorable Ralph M. Hall for his |
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| 51 | 52 | | accomplishments as a member of the United States Congress and |
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| 52 | 53 | | extend to him sincere appreciation for his exemplary service; and, |
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| 53 | 54 | | be it further |
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| 54 | 55 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 55 | 56 | | prepared for Congressman Hall as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 56 | 57 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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