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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, Chantal Bencze has taught French at St. Thomas |
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| 6 | 7 | | Episcopal School in Houston for 53 years, and it is indeed fitting |
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| 7 | 8 | | to recognize her and honor her for her remarkable career; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A native speaker of French, Mrs. Bencze was hired in |
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| 9 | 10 | | 1963 by the school's founder, the Reverend T. Robert Ingram; the |
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| 10 | 11 | | position has suited her ideally, as she is a strong proponent of a |
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| 11 | 12 | | faith-based, classical education, and she enjoys introducing her |
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| 12 | 13 | | students to the wonders and complexities of her mother tongue; she |
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| 13 | 14 | | ensures that her students are well versed not only in correct |
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| 14 | 15 | | grammar but also in good manners; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Mrs. Bencze was born in Limoges, France, in 1934, to |
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| 16 | 17 | | Dr. Jean Dufour and Denise Dufour; she grew up as one of 10 children |
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| 17 | 18 | | and was educated in parochial schools; during the Nazi occupation, |
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| 18 | 19 | | her parents helped their Jewish compatriots, and she and her |
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| 19 | 20 | | siblings found small ways to show defiance to enemy soldiers; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, At the age of 19, while on vacation in England, she |
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| 21 | 22 | | met an American soldier, Richard Gay, and they married and moved to |
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| 22 | 23 | | Miami before settling in Houston; she later married Stephen Bencze; |
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| 23 | 24 | | her family has grown through the years to include 6 children, 18 |
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| 24 | 25 | | grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren, and she maintains close |
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| 25 | 26 | | ties to her many relatives in France; in her free time, she is an |
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| 26 | 27 | | avid reader of histories and literary classics; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Few teachers can claim a career spanning more than a |
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| 28 | 29 | | half century, and through her enduring commitment to education, |
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| 29 | 30 | | Chantal Bencze continues to make a positive difference in the lives |
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| 30 | 31 | | of young Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 32 | 33 | | Legislature hereby honor Chantal Bencze for her 53-year career at |
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| 33 | 34 | | St. Thomas Episcopal School and extend to her sincere best wishes |
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| 34 | 35 | | for the future; and, be it further |
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| 35 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 36 | 37 | | prepared for Mrs. Bencze as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 37 | 38 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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