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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 Amarillo lost an esteemed business |
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| 6 | 7 | | leader and philanthropist with the death of B. T. Ware II on May 12, |
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| 7 | 8 | | 2014, at the age of 95; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born on November 10, 1918, "Tol" Ware graduated from |
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| 9 | 10 | | Amarillo High School in 1936 and went on to attend The University of |
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| 10 | 11 | | Texas at Austin; during World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, |
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| 11 | 12 | | where he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant; and |
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| 12 | 13 | | WHEREAS, The Ware family has owned Amarillo National Bank for |
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| 13 | 14 | | more than 100 years, and Tol Ware played an important role in |
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| 14 | 15 | | bringing two industry firsts to Texas: drive-up teller service in |
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| 15 | 16 | | 1950 and an automated teller machine in 1978; he and his sons, |
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| 16 | 17 | | Richard and Bill, were named Bankers of the Century by Texas Monthly |
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| 17 | 18 | | in 1999, and Amarillo National Bank is thought to be one of the |
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| 18 | 19 | | largest 100 percent family-owned banks in the country; Mr. Ware was |
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| 19 | 20 | | especially pleased to have fourth and fifth generations of his |
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| 20 | 21 | | family working alongside him at the bank and serving on the board of |
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| 21 | 22 | | directors, which he chaired; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Extensively engaged in civic endeavors, Mr. Ware was |
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| 23 | 24 | | a prolific fund-raiser who gave generously of his time and |
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| 24 | 25 | | resources to worthy causes; he was instrumental in the |
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| 25 | 26 | | establishment of the Ware Tower at BSA Hospital, the Ware Living |
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| 26 | 27 | | Center at Park Central, and Tol Ware Park at Citychurch, and he |
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| 27 | 28 | | supported many other charitable organizations behind the scenes; |
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| 28 | 29 | | and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Ware shared 68 rewarding years of marriage with |
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| 30 | 31 | | his wife, Mary, until her passing in 2011, and he took immense pride |
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| 31 | 32 | | in their two sons as well as in their six grandchildren and eight |
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| 32 | 33 | | great-grandchildren; a lifelong member of Polk Street United |
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| 33 | 34 | | Methodist Church, he derived great satisfaction in attending |
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| 34 | 35 | | services each Sunday with his family; in his leisure time, he |
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| 35 | 36 | | enjoyed walking his dogs and swimming; he was also an avid tennis |
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| 36 | 37 | | player for some 65 years, and he helped establish the Tennis Center |
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| 37 | 38 | | at Austin Middle School, the indoor courts at the Amarillo Country |
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| 38 | 39 | | Club, T Bar M, and Amarillo National Tennis Center; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Tol Ware earned the admiration of all who knew him, |
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| 40 | 41 | | not only for his success as a businessman but for his exceptional |
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| 41 | 42 | | kindness and generosity, and he leaves behind a legacy that will |
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| 42 | 43 | | resonate in the Amarillo community for years to come; now, |
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| 43 | 44 | | 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 life of B. T. Ware II and |
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| 46 | 47 | | extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his son, |
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| 47 | 48 | | Richard Ware; to his grandchildren, Anne-Clayton Vroom, William, |
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| 48 | 49 | | Pat, Benj, and W. Tol Ware, and Savannah Singleton; to his eight |
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| 49 | 50 | | great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, |
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| 50 | 51 | | be it further |
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| 51 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 52 | 53 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 53 | 54 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tol Ware. |
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