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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 Nacogdoches lost an admired civic leader |
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| 6 | 7 | | with the death of Lucille Marie La Pointe DeWitt on October 9, 2015, |
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| 7 | 8 | | at the age of 90; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born in Killingly, Connecticut, on October 8, 1925, |
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| 9 | 10 | | the former Lucy La Pointe lived with the Colizzi family in |
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| 10 | 11 | | Charlotte, Michigan, and worked as an au pair and soda jerk while |
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| 11 | 12 | | completing high school; she later moved to New York City to pursue a |
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| 12 | 13 | | career in acting and modeling; in 1948, she married Rich DeWitt, and |
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| 13 | 14 | | they became the parents of five treasured children, Richard, |
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| 14 | 15 | | Deborah, Candace, Cindy, and Jack; she eventually knew the joy of |
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| 15 | 16 | | welcoming 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren into her |
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| 16 | 17 | | family; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, The DeWitts moved to Waxahachie and then settled in |
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| 18 | 19 | | Nacogdoches in 1957 to assist with the family business, DeWitt |
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| 19 | 20 | | Hatcheries; in 1964, the couple opened their first KFC franchise, |
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| 20 | 21 | | and they eventually expanded to a total of 70 locations across the |
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| 21 | 22 | | state; Mrs. DeWitt became president of the company following her |
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| 22 | 23 | | husband's death in 2006, and with a remarkable work ethic, she |
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| 23 | 24 | | remained active in the business into her late 80s; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Deeply committed to her community, Mrs. DeWitt |
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| 25 | 26 | | played a key role in the establishment of the Nacogdoches County |
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| 26 | 27 | | Republican Women, and she served as president of the organization; |
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| 27 | 28 | | she was a founding member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Pink |
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| 28 | 29 | | Ladies and board president of the physical rehabilitation center |
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| 29 | 30 | | that the group helped develop; in addition, she was a member of the |
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| 30 | 31 | | Samaritan Center board and a charter life member of the Nacogdoches |
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| 31 | 32 | | Expo Center; she and her husband donated land to Stephen F. Austin |
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| 32 | 33 | | State University for its nursing program, and in recognition of |
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| 33 | 34 | | their support, the School of Nursing was named in their honor; |
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| 34 | 35 | | moreover, Mrs. DeWitt sponsored Nacogdoches Crime Stoppers and |
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| 35 | 36 | | donated funds for the restoration of a number of historic |
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| 36 | 37 | | buildings; in 2006, she was inducted into the Stephen F. Austin |
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| 37 | 38 | | Society, and among myriad accolades, she was named the 2008 Woman of |
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| 38 | 39 | | the Year by the American Association of University Women; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Lucy DeWitt made a lasting, positive impact in her |
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| 40 | 41 | | community through her exceptional generosity and dedication, and |
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| 41 | 42 | | she will forever hold a special place in the hearts of all who were |
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| 42 | 43 | | fortunate enough to know her; 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 Lucille DeWitt and |
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| 45 | 46 | | extend sincere condolences to her loved ones; and, be it further |
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| 46 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 47 | 48 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 48 | 49 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Lucy |
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| 49 | 50 | | DeWitt. |
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