H.R. No. 777
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the
passing of Ruffner Perry Baugh of Rockport on February 2, 2015, at
the age of 91; and
WHEREAS, Ruffner Baugh was born on November 21, 1923, in
Asheville, North Carolina, to George Herman Baugh Sr. and Lena
Mabel Whitfield; raised in Charlotte, he went on to pursue his
higher education at Duke University; and
WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty during World War
II, Mr. Baugh interrupted his studies at Duke in November 1942 to
enlist in the Army Air Corps and train as a bomber pilot; he flew
combat missions over Europe during the Ardennes counteroffensive,
and he earned two Bronze Stars and the ETO Ribbon; following the
war, he served in the Air Force Officers' Reserve Corps until 1955,
and he would occasionally fly over his home and wiggle the wings of
his plane to say hello to his loved ones below; and
WHEREAS, After returning to civilian life, Mr. Baugh joined
Chance Vought Aircraft in Connecticut, and he transferred to the
company's Dallas office in 1949; he continued to work for the
enterprise, which later became LTV Corporation, for 38 years,
reaching the position of head of production planning; and
WHEREAS, In retirement, Mr. Baugh and his second wife,
Patricia, whom he married in 1975, sold their home in Dallas, bought
a trailer, and set off on a five-year road trip that took them all
across the nation, from coast to coast and from Florida to Alaska;
they eventually settled in Rockport; and
WHEREAS, "Ruff" Baugh loved gardening and the Dallas Cowboys,
and he delighted in the accomplishments of his grandchildren; a
lively and energetic man, he could roller-skate and ride a bicycle
backwards into his 60s, and in his 80s, he was still a fierce
competitor on the tennis court; and
WHEREAS, A loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather,
and a proud veteran of World War II, Ruff Baugh lived life to the
fullest, and memories of his time on this earth will continue to
inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ruffner Perry Baugh
and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
wife, Patricia Baugh; to his son, Philip Baugh, and his wife, Mimi;
to his grandson, Nicholas Baugh; to his granddaughter, Kristin
Carona, and her husband, Jeff; to his great-grandson, Maxwell
Carona; to his brother, Bob Baugh; to his stepchildren, Diane and
Darrell; to his step-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and
friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruffner
Perry Baugh.
Morrison
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 777 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 12, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House