H.R. No. 1934
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The passing of Joseph Ray Perry on April 27, 2017, at
the age of 92 marked the end of a long and purposeful life that
encompassed honorable service to his country and his community; and
WHEREAS, Born on April 23, 1925, in the Paint Creek community
of Haskell County, Ray Perry was the eldest child of Hoyt and Thelma
Dinsmore Perry; after graduating from high school in 1943, he
joined the United States Army Air Corps at the height of World War
II; assigned as a tail gunner on B-17 bombers, he flew a total of 35
missions over war-torn Europe and earned several medals for his
valor in combat; and
WHEREAS, Following his return to civilian life, Mr. Perry
exchanged wedding vows with the former Amelia June Holt, whom he had
met on a blind date; they went on to enjoy nearly 70 years of
marriage and became the loving parents of two children, Milla Perry
Jones and James Richard Perry; Rick Perry followed in his father's
footsteps to serve in the U.S. Air Force before returning to the
family farm in Paint Creek in 1977, and the pair farmed and ranched
together for more than a decade until the younger Perry was elected
the Texas commissioner of agriculture; Ray Perry knew the pride of
seeing his son build a stellar career in public office by becoming
the longest-serving governor in state history and later being
appointed to his current post as the U.S. secretary of energy; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Haskell County, Ray Perry
embarked on a 28-year tenure as county commissioner following his
initial election victory in 1968; his community service also
included 10 years on the Paint Creek school board and six years on
the West Central Texas Council of Governments, which he led as
president for a time, and he was a member of the local water board as
well; his retirement in the 1990s allowed him more time to enjoy
visits from his family, which had grown to include his
daughter-in-law, Anita, his grandchildren, Griffin, Caitlyn, and
Sydney, and his great-grandchildren, Ella and Piper; and
WHEREAS, Ray Perry fought courageously for his nation and
went on to serve the residents of his county with equal commitment,
and memories of this esteemed Texan will forever be treasured by all
those who shared in the richness of his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Joseph Ray Perry and
extend deepest sympathy to his 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 Joseph Ray
Perry.
Springer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1934 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 12, 2017.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House