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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 city of Tomball lost an admired civic leader |
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| 6 | 7 | | with the passing of former mayor Harold Gene Harrington on May 17, |
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| 7 | 8 | | 2016, at the age of 81; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The son of Newman and Gladys Harrington, "Hap" |
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| 9 | 10 | | Harrington was born in Weldon on September 29, 1934, and grew up |
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| 10 | 11 | | with the companionship of his sister, Carol; he graduated with the |
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| 11 | 12 | | Class of 1953 at Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, and he |
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| 12 | 13 | | went on to earn a master's degree in education from Sam Houston |
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| 13 | 14 | | State University; in college, he distinguished himself as a member |
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| 14 | 15 | | of the football team, helping lead the Bearkats to state and |
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| 15 | 16 | | national championships and to their only undefeated season in |
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| 16 | 17 | | school history; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Harrington began his career in education as a |
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| 18 | 19 | | teacher and coach before transitioning to school administration; he |
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| 19 | 20 | | served as assistant vice principal and principal at McAllen High |
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| 20 | 21 | | School and then as principal of Klein High School; he was later |
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| 21 | 22 | | installed as superintendent of the Tomball Independent School |
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| 22 | 23 | | District in 1980; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Dedicated to public service, Mr. Harrington entered |
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| 24 | 25 | | politics in 1992 with his election as mayor of Tomball, and he ably |
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| 25 | 26 | | served in that office for five terms; he also represented his |
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| 26 | 27 | | community as a member of the board of the Southeast Texas Housing |
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| 27 | 28 | | Authority; in recognition of his outstanding efforts, he was |
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| 28 | 29 | | selected as the 1990 Tomball Citizen of the Year; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, Mr. Harrington was a longtime |
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| 30 | 31 | | congregant of Salem Lutheran Church; in his leisure hours, he |
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| 31 | 32 | | enjoyed watching sports, gardening, painting, and woodworking; and |
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| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Harrington shared a fulfilling marriage with |
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| 33 | 34 | | his wife of more than four decades, Shirley; over the years, he |
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| 34 | 35 | | became the proud father of three children, Nina, Kenneth, and |
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| 35 | 36 | | Douglas, and he was further blessed with two stepdaughters, Sherron |
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| 36 | 37 | | and Julie, as well as eight grandchildren and five |
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| 37 | 38 | | great-grandchildren; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Through his vision, leadership, and selfless |
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| 39 | 40 | | commitment to the well-being of others, Hap Harrington made a |
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| 40 | 41 | | lasting, positive difference in Tomball, and although he is deeply |
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| 41 | 42 | | missed, his love for his community will continue to inspire his |
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| 42 | 43 | | fellow citizens for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Harold Gene |
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| 45 | 46 | | Harrington and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and |
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| 46 | 47 | | friends; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 49 | 50 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Harold Gene |
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| 50 | 51 | | Harrington. |
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