| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, A life dedicated to the service of his nation and his |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | community drew to a close with the death of former Hopkins County |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | sheriff Billy G. Dirks on March 27, 2015, at the age of 81; and |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born on January 12, 1934, to Dillard and Edna Dirks, |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | Billy Dirks grew up in Lamar County; he joined the United States Air |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | Force and then the army, serving in both the Korean and the Vietnam |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | Wars and earning the Bronze Star, among many other commendations; |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | and |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Dirks retired after 27 years of service to his |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | nation and moved to Sulphur Springs; he was hired by the Hopkins |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | County Sheriff's Office in the early 1980s, beginning an exemplary |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | tenure with the department that spanned 16 years; named chief |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | deputy in 1988, he was appointed sheriff two years later and was |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | elected to a full term in 1992, earning the distinction of being the |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | county's first African American sheriff; he subsequently worked as |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | the director of the alternative school at the North Hopkins County |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | School; and |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, A man of deep religious faith, Mr. Dirks was a |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | longtime member of the MLK Church of Christ; in all his endeavors, |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | he enjoyed the love and support of his wife, the former Delores |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | White, his children, Gia, Tracie, and Derek, and his five |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | grandchildren; and |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, A devoted family man, an outstanding public servant, |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | and an inspiring mentor, Billy Dirks earned the admiration of all |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | who knew him, and he leaves behind a record of service that his |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | loved ones can remember with pride; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Billy G. Dirks and |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | wife, Delores Dirks; to his children, Gia Pleasant and her husband, |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | Charles, Tracie Rand and her husband, Tony, and Derek Dirks; to his |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | five grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | it further |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Billy |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | G. Dirks. |
|---|