| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 514 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The 95th birthday of an esteemed member of the |
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| 3 | 3 | | Greatest Generation is truly cause for celebration, and William |
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| 4 | 4 | | Terry of White Oak marked this significant milestone in his life |
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| 5 | 5 | | on February 11, 2017; and |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Born to Thomas and Zora Terry in Cisco in 1922, |
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| 7 | 7 | | Bill Terry grew up with three siblings, Dorothy, Wanda, and |
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| 8 | 8 | | Thomas; he served his country in the United States Navy from 1939 |
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| 9 | 9 | | until 1945, participating in 13 landings and 18 shore |
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| 10 | 10 | | bombardments; as a gunner's mate on the destroyer USS Reid, he |
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| 11 | 11 | | survived both the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the sinking of his |
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| 12 | 12 | | ship in the Philippines' Leyte Gulf following repeated kamikaze |
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| 13 | 13 | | attacks; he was also deployed to Kiska, Nazan Bay, Guadalcanal, |
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| 14 | 14 | | Lae, Finchaven, Arawe, Cape Gloucester, Cape Sudest, Cape |
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| 15 | 15 | | Cretin, Saidor, Ataipe, Biak, Owi, Noemfoor, Wake, Tacloban, |
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| 16 | 16 | | Ormoc, Wadke, Hollandia, and Los Negros; among other |
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| 17 | 17 | | decorations, he received the Purple Heart; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Terry married Alma Louise White in 1945, and |
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| 19 | 19 | | they became the parents of two treasured sons, Stephen and Allen; |
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| 20 | 20 | | following her untimely death in 1960, he was fortunate enough to |
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| 21 | 21 | | find love a second time, and he and Marlena Morine Raley Smith were |
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| 22 | 22 | | joined in matrimony on May 29, 1961; he welcomed into his family her |
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| 23 | 23 | | six children, James, Patricia, Gary, Richard, Barbara, and Mollie, |
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| 24 | 24 | | and today he also takes great pride in 19 grandchildren and more |
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| 25 | 25 | | than 30 great-grandchildren; Mr. and Mrs. Terry shared a fulfilling |
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| 26 | 26 | | relationship until her death in 2013; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Until his retirement, Mr. Terry was employed by |
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| 28 | 28 | | ExxonMobil; he is a valued member of White Oak United Methodist |
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| 29 | 29 | | Church and a 32nd Degree Mason; over the years, he has shared his |
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| 30 | 30 | | wartime experiences with many schoolchildren, offering them a |
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| 31 | 31 | | personal link to a seminal era in our nation's history, and he has |
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| 32 | 32 | | also granted newspaper and television interviews to provide |
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| 33 | 33 | | perspective on Pacific Theater operations; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Meeting life's challenges with resilience, |
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| 35 | 35 | | optimism, and determination, Bill Terry is an inspiration to many |
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| 36 | 36 | | people, and he holds a special place in the hearts of all who are |
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| 37 | 37 | | privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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| 39 | 39 | | Legislature, hereby congratulate William Terry on his 95th |
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| 40 | 40 | | birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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| 41 | 41 | | happiness; and, be it further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 43 | 43 | | Mr. Terry as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. |
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| 44 | 44 | | Hughes |
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| 45 | 45 | | ________________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | President of the Senate |
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| 47 | 47 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 48 | 48 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 49 | 49 | | the Senate on March 28, 2017. |
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| 50 | 50 | | ________________________________ |
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| 51 | 51 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 52 | 52 | | ________________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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