H.R. No. 2812
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the
passing of James Oscar Dear of Mineola on January 28, 2014, at the
age of 97; and
WHEREAS, Born on May 15, 1916, to Sam and Nancy Dear, James
Dear graduated from Mineola High School and was subsequently
drafted into the United States Army during World War II; a code
interceptor for the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces intelligence
service, he earned the Meritorious Achievement Award for helping
destroy a group of German bombers targeting a convoy of ships in the
Mediterranean Sea, and he was additionally awarded two Bronze Star
Medals; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dear began working at a cinema at the age of 12
and quickly developed a passion for movies, and during the war, he
entertained his fellow soldiers by screening films; after returning
to civilian life, he and his friend Truman Thomas became the owners
and operators of the Select Theater in Mineola; a popular town
hangout, the business thrived for many decades and was donated to
the Lake Country Playhouse following the retirement of its
proprietors; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to his community, Mr. Dear was highly
regarded for his extensive knowledge of local history, and he was
actively involved with the Meredith Foundation, which he served as
chair for a quarter-century, and the Mineola Chamber of Commerce;
he was also a cofounder of the Mineola Hay and Junior Livestock
Shows and a valued congregant of First United Methodist Church,
where he was a Sunday school teacher and a member of numerous
committees; receiving well-deserved recognition for his civic
leadership, he was presented with the Paul Harris Fellow Award by
the Rotary Foundation and the Mineola Man of the Year Award by the
chamber of commerce; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dear shared a fulfilling marriage with his wife,
Frances Dear, who preceded him in death; the couple became the
parents of a daughter, Martha, and their family later grew to
include two granddaughters, Nicole and Savannah, and a
great-grandson, Colt; and
WHEREAS, Those fortunate enough to have known James Dear will
remember the way he touched their lives with his kindness and
generosity, and he will forever hold a treasured place in their
hearts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James Oscar Dear and
extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James
Dear.
Hughes
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2812 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 30, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House