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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, Residents of Arlington are mourning the loss of |
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| 6 | 7 | | Dr. Norman Lee Robinson, senior pastor of Mount Olive Baptist |
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| 7 | 8 | | Church, who passed away on April 28, 2017, at the age of 96; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The son of Lee and Gollie McCoin Robinson, |
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| 9 | 10 | | N. L. Robinson was born on February 23, 1921, in Sanger and grew up |
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| 10 | 11 | | in Palmer; he bravely defended his country as a member of the |
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| 11 | 12 | | U.S. Army during World War II, and he was honorably discharged in |
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| 12 | 13 | | 1945; his service was recognized with an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign |
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| 13 | 14 | | Medal with a Bronze Star seven decades later; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Returning stateside, Dr. Robinson accepted a |
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| 15 | 16 | | position with the Dallas Housing Authority, where he worked until |
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| 16 | 17 | | his retirement in 1976; to further the spiritual journey that he had |
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| 17 | 18 | | begun on Guadalcanal Island during the war, he earned a degree from |
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| 18 | 19 | | the Southern Bible Institute of Dallas in 1962; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan became a member of the clergy at |
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| 20 | 21 | | St. John Baptist Church in Grand Prairie and pastored Lucille |
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| 21 | 22 | | Missionary Baptist Church in Palmer before being called to the |
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| 22 | 23 | | pulpit at Mount Olive in 1966; the church thrived under his |
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| 23 | 24 | | leadership, growing from 17 members to more than 12,000 and |
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| 24 | 25 | | developing a range of initiatives of benefit to the community; and |
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| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Over the years, Dr. Robinson received numerous |
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| 26 | 27 | | accolades; he was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree and |
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| 27 | 28 | | keys to the cities of Arlington and Grand Prairie, and he received |
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| 28 | 29 | | letters of commendation from Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill |
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| 29 | 30 | | Clinton; in 1992, North West Street in Arlington was renamed |
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| 30 | 31 | | N. L. Robinson Drive in his honor; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Robinson enjoyed the love |
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| 32 | 33 | | and support of his wife, Pearl, with whom he shared more than 65 |
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| 33 | 34 | | years of marriage until her death in 2014; he was the proud father |
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| 34 | 35 | | of three daughters, Norma Faye, Maynell, and Gwen, and he cherished |
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| 35 | 36 | | the time he spent with his numerous grandchildren; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, An admired spiritual leader, N. L. Robinson made a |
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| 37 | 38 | | positive difference in the lives of his loved ones and fellow |
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| 38 | 39 | | citizens alike, and his contributions will continue to resonate for |
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| 39 | 40 | | years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 41 | 42 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Norman Lee |
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| 42 | 43 | | Robinson and extend sincere best wishes to his relatives and |
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| 43 | 44 | | friends; and, be it further |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 45 | 46 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 46 | 47 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of |
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| 47 | 48 | | Dr. N. L. Robinson. |
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