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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 life of an admired coach and educator drew to a |
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| 6 | 7 | | close with the untimely passing of Tommy Lee Grace of Graham on July |
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| 7 | 8 | | 7, 2016, at the age of 63; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A native of Odessa, Tommy Grace was born on October |
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| 9 | 10 | | 15, 1952, to Albert Thomas Grace Jr. and Myra Grace; he graduated |
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| 10 | 11 | | from Gordon High School and served his country as a member of the |
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| 11 | 12 | | United States Army during the Vietnam War before earning a master's |
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| 12 | 13 | | degree from Tarleton State University; and |
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| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Grace enjoyed a notable tenure with the Graham |
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| 14 | 15 | | Independent School District that spanned more than two decades; in |
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| 15 | 16 | | addition to coaching football, boys' and girls' basketball, track, |
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| 16 | 17 | | and golf, he served as the boys' athletic director and taught |
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| 17 | 18 | | science at Graham Junior High School; active in his professional |
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| 18 | 19 | | community, he was a member of the Texas High School Coaches |
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| 19 | 20 | | Association and the Coaches Outreach ministry; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan married the love of his life, |
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| 21 | 22 | | the former Debra Strain, on December 23, 1972, and the couple |
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| 22 | 23 | | nurtured a rewarding union that was blessed with two children, |
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| 23 | 24 | | Kelley and Jeff, and five grandchildren, Logan, Ryan, Joshua, |
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| 24 | 25 | | Hattie Belle, and Kyle; and |
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| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Tommy Grace lived a rich and purposeful life, and |
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| 26 | 27 | | memories of his devotion to his family, his students, and his |
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| 27 | 28 | | community will continue to inspire all those who knew and loved him; |
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| 28 | 29 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 29 | 30 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 30 | 31 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Tommy Lee Grace and |
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| 31 | 32 | | extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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| 32 | 33 | | wife, Debra Grace; to his children, Kelley Schmidt and her husband, |
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| 33 | 34 | | Andrew, and Jeff Grace and his wife, Jessica; to his grandchildren, |
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| 34 | 35 | | Logan, Ryan, Joshua, and Hattie Belle Grace and Kyle Schmidt; to his |
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| 35 | 36 | | siblings, Jackie Corley and her husband, Benny, and Albert Grace |
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| 36 | 37 | | III and his wife, Linda; and to his many other relatives and |
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| 37 | 38 | | friends; and, be it further |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 39 | 40 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 40 | 41 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tommy Lee |
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| 41 | 42 | | Grace. |
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