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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 passing of Landon Alford on December 18, 2013, |
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| 6 | 7 | | at the age of 78, concluded a remarkable life of service to the |
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| 7 | 8 | | Henderson community; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A native of Dallas, Landon Alford was born on July |
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| 9 | 10 | | 11, 1935, to John Rogers and Susan Landon Alford; he earned his |
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| 10 | 11 | | diploma from Henderson High School in 1953 and enrolled at Southern |
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| 11 | 12 | | Methodist University, where he met his future wife, the former |
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| 12 | 13 | | Phyllis Potthast; the pair exchanged wedding vows on April 18, |
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| 13 | 14 | | 1957, and graduated from SMU the following May; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Alford subsequently returned to Henderson and |
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| 15 | 16 | | assumed ownership of his family's agriculture business, and he |
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| 16 | 17 | | served his country in the United States Air Force and Reserve; named |
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| 17 | 18 | | "Young Man of the Year" in Rusk County in 1960, he had by that time |
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| 18 | 19 | | begun a highly productive tenure on the board of directors for |
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| 19 | 20 | | Citizens National Bank that would go on to span 55 years, including |
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| 20 | 21 | | 18 years as chair; during that time, the bank grew to encompass 25 |
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| 21 | 22 | | locations in East and Central Texas with deposits totaling $1.3 |
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| 22 | 23 | | billion; he additionally served as secretary-treasurer for the |
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| 23 | 24 | | board of Henderson Clay Products until the firm was sold in 1986; |
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| 24 | 25 | | and |
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| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Deeply committed to both his community and greater |
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| 26 | 27 | | East Texas, Mr. Alford headed the Texas Good Roads and |
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| 27 | 28 | | Transportation Association, and his instrumental role in securing |
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| 28 | 29 | | funds for the state highway system earned him the title of "East |
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| 29 | 30 | | Texan of the Year" by the East Texas Chamber of Commerce in 1984; he |
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| 30 | 31 | | worked extensively with the Texas Department of Transportation to |
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| 31 | 32 | | facilitate the improvement of Texas highways, and today, Loop 571 |
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| 32 | 33 | | in Henderson bears his name as a tribute to his efforts; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Alford served multiple terms on the board of the |
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| 34 | 35 | | Henderson Area Chamber of Commerce, and he was a member of the |
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| 35 | 36 | | chamber's transportation committee for more than four decades; he |
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| 36 | 37 | | further devoted his time as chair of the Henderson Memorial |
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| 37 | 38 | | Hospital board and as president of the Henderson Kiwanis Club and |
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| 38 | 39 | | the John R. Alford and Susan Landon Alford Foundation, an |
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| 39 | 40 | | organization founded by his parents; in 1978, he received the Wes |
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| 40 | 41 | | Dean Award for his work with the YMCA in Henderson; and |
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| 41 | 42 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Alford enjoyed the love |
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| 42 | 43 | | and support of his family; during the 56 years of marriage he shared |
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| 43 | 44 | | with his wife, he became the proud father of three sons, Eugene, |
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| 44 | 45 | | Benson, and David, and he welcomed the arrival of six |
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| 45 | 46 | | grandchildren, John, Lauren, Elizabeth, Madeline, Amelia, and |
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| 46 | 47 | | Eveline; he was known for his unassuming manner and for the |
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| 47 | 48 | | attention and consideration he showed for all people, traits that |
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| 48 | 49 | | won him the widespread trust and respect of his fellow citizens; and |
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| 49 | 50 | | WHEREAS, Landon Alford was a man of compassion, integrity, |
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| 50 | 51 | | and dedication whose contributions to his community had a profound |
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| 51 | 52 | | and positive impact on those around him, and although he is deeply |
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| 52 | 53 | | missed, his legacy continues to resonate in the city he was proud to |
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| 53 | 54 | | call home; now, therefore, be it |
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| 54 | 55 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 55 | 56 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Landon Alford and |
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| 56 | 57 | | extend sincere sympathy to all those who have mourned the passing of |
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| 57 | 58 | | this esteemed Texan; and, be it further |
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| 58 | 59 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 59 | 60 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 60 | 61 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Landon |
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| 61 | 62 | | Alford. |
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