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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, A full and productive life drew to a close with the |
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| 6 | 7 | | passing of Dr. Charles B. Runnels on October 25, 2016, at the age of |
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| 7 | 8 | | 91; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born on July 30, 1925, Dr. Runnels was raised in |
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| 9 | 10 | | Texas; he enrolled at Stephen F. Austin University at the age of 16 |
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| 10 | 11 | | and went on to receive his bachelor's degree from that institution; |
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| 11 | 12 | | answering his nation's call to duty, he served in the United States |
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| 12 | 13 | | Navy for four years, including one year with the Navy Air Corps in |
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| 13 | 14 | | the Asian theater of World War II; he completed law school at the |
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| 14 | 15 | | University of Houston in 1956 and then went to work for Tenneco; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, In 1967, Dr. Runnels joined the site selection |
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| 16 | 17 | | committee for Pepperdine University, then known as George |
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| 17 | 18 | | Pepperdine College; the two-year assignment turned into a lifelong |
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| 18 | 19 | | career with the California-based school, which included more than |
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| 19 | 20 | | two decades as chancellor; his responsibilities included service as |
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| 20 | 21 | | the university's chief fund-raiser, and he coordinated successful |
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| 21 | 22 | | campaigns that brought in hundreds of millions of dollars in |
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| 22 | 23 | | contributions; he also founded the Youth Citizenship Seminar that |
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| 23 | 24 | | annually brought high school students to the campus to explore such |
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| 24 | 25 | | subjects as leadership, faith, and free enterprise; he was named |
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| 25 | 26 | | chancellor emeritus of Pepperdine in 2006, and he continued to be |
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| 26 | 27 | | involved with the university's board in the years that followed; |
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| 27 | 28 | | and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, In recognition of his long-standing efforts in |
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| 29 | 30 | | behalf of Pepperdine, Dr. Runnels was honored in 2010 with the |
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| 30 | 31 | | dedication of the university's athletic complex as the Charles B. |
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| 31 | 32 | | Runnels Sports and Recreation Village, and he also received an |
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| 32 | 33 | | honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university's Seaver |
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| 33 | 34 | | College; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, Dr. Runnels was a lifelong |
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| 35 | 36 | | member of the Churches of Christ, and he played an active role at |
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| 36 | 37 | | Culver Palms Church of Christ, where he was an elder; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Runnels was blessed with |
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| 38 | 39 | | the love and support of his wife, Amy Jo; he was a proud father of |
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| 39 | 40 | | three sons, Duke Runnels, Tyler Runnels, and the late Raleigh |
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| 40 | 41 | | Runnels, and a daughter, Susan Runnels Plumb, and he later saw his |
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| 41 | 42 | | family grow to include six grandchildren; and |
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| 42 | 43 | | WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to helping young people develop into |
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| 43 | 44 | | productive citizens, Dr. Charles B. Runnels made a positive |
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| 44 | 45 | | difference in many lives, and his dedication to education and his |
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| 45 | 46 | | unwavering faith will continue to inspire those who had the good |
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| 46 | 47 | | fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 48 | 49 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Charles B. |
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| 49 | 50 | | Runnels and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his |
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| 50 | 51 | | passing; and, be it further |
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| 51 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 52 | 53 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 53 | 54 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of |
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| 54 | 55 | | Dr. Charles B. Runnels. |
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