SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 225
In Memory
of
Cecil Ira Hollingshead
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Cecil
Ira Hollingshead of Marshall, who passed away on December 11,
2016, at the age of 96; and
WHEREAS, Born in Mont Belvieu on April 10, 1920, Cecil
Hollingshead was the son of Henry and Barsa Hollingshead; he
joined the United States Navy in 1938 and was stationed at Pearl
Harbor; when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941, he began
handing out machine guns, and with his fellow sailors, he
succeeded in bringing down two enemy aircraft; he subsequently
helped seize Pacific islands for the Allied forces with a
squadron of seagoing bombers; highly decorated, he earned the
American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal,
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II
Victory Medal, and, in 1991, the commemorative Pearl Harbor
Medal; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hollingshead married the love of his life, the
former Beatrice Ruth Schmitz, on October 5, 1945, and they became
the parents of four children, James, Paul, Daniel, and Cecilia;
through the years, Mr. Hollingshead knew the joy of welcoming
into his family 10 grandchildren, Kimberly, Adrienne, Tiffannee,
Jared, Jonathon, Harold, Joshua, Jennifer, Stormy, and Holly, as
well as 23 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren;
he and his wife shared a fulfilling marriage of 66 years before
her death; and
WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Hollingshead completed his
bachelor's degree in mechanical and electrical engineering at
the University of Houston; he performed design work for the B-52
bomber while employed by Boeing in Seattle, and in 1956, he
relocated to Marshall and embarked on a career with Thiokol that
would span nearly three decades; following his retirement, he
continued to work as a cattle rancher and custom hay baler; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hollingshead was a devout Catholic, and he
served the Knights of Columbus Marshall Council for 57 years; as
a nonagenarian, he spent many happy days camping, golfing, and
fishing, and shortly before his death, he traveled to Pearl
Harbor to participate in the 75th anniversary observance; and
WHEREAS, Cecil Hollingshead lived a rich and purposeful
life devoted to his family, his faith, and his country, and he
leaves behind a legacy that will long be treasured by all those
who held him dear; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Cecil Ira
Hollingshead and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his
passing; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this day, it do
so in memory of Cecil Hollingshead.
Hughes
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 21, 2017,
by a rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate