| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt at |
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| 6 | 7 | | the loss of Brenda Nation of Austin, who died on January 22, 2017, |
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| 7 | 8 | | at the age of 59; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Brenda Nation was born to Benjamin and Juanita |
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| 9 | 10 | | Nation on October 4, 1957, and she grew up in Lake Charles, |
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| 10 | 11 | | Louisiana; after graduating from LaGrange High School, she worked |
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| 11 | 12 | | in a number of offices, including a law firm, where the attorneys |
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| 12 | 13 | | urged her to attend college; she took their advice and earned a |
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| 13 | 14 | | bachelor's degree from McNeese State University, and, in 1993, she |
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| 14 | 15 | | received her law degree from Louisiana State University; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Nation began her legal career as an assistant |
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| 16 | 17 | | attorney general for the state of Louisiana, and in December 2001, |
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| 17 | 18 | | she joined the staff of the American Council of Life Insurers; |
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| 18 | 19 | | working first out of their headquarters in Washington, D.C., and |
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| 19 | 20 | | then as regional vice president in the Austin office, she capably |
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| 20 | 21 | | represented the ACLI before the legislatures of Texas, Oklahoma, |
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| 21 | 22 | | Wyoming, New Mexico, and Alaska; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, At her 20th high school reunion, Ms. Nation |
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| 23 | 24 | | reconnected with an old classmate, Allen Corder; the couple married |
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| 24 | 25 | | three months later and went on to share more than two decades |
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| 25 | 26 | | together; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Nation won the admiration of many with her |
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| 27 | 28 | | thoughtful and generous gifts, her skill as a scratch golfer, and |
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| 28 | 29 | | her flair for decorating; she also loved to cook and entertain, and |
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| 29 | 30 | | she delighted guests with her Cajun recipes, one of which was |
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| 30 | 31 | | featured in Good Housekeeping magazine; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, A loving wife, a dedicated professional, and a loyal |
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| 32 | 33 | | friend, Brenda Nation lived a full and generous life, and memories |
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| 33 | 34 | | of her warmth, kindness, and joie de vivre will forever be treasured |
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| 34 | 35 | | by all those who knew and loved her; now, therefore, be it |
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| 35 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 36 | 37 | | hereby pay tribute to the life of Brenda Nation and extend heartfelt |
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| 37 | 38 | | sympathy to the members of her family: to her husband, Allen Corder; |
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| 38 | 39 | | to her brothers, Glenn Nation and his wife, Helen, and Dean Nation |
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| 39 | 40 | | and his wife, Connie; and to her other relatives and many friends; |
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| 40 | 41 | | and, be it further |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 43 | | prepared for her family, and that when the Texas House of |
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| 43 | 44 | | Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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| 44 | 45 | | Brenda Nation. |
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