85S12834 JGH-D
By: Kacal H.R. No. 420
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, John Hince of Bryan was elected as state commander
of the American Legion for 2017-2018 at the 99th annual convention
of the Legion's Department of Texas, which took place in Killeen on
July 16, 2017; and
WHEREAS, A native of Pennsylvania, John Hince earned a
bachelor's degree as a distinguished military graduate of the
Virginia Military Institute in 1968, and he entered active duty
with the U.S. Army in June 1969; after completing the Infantry
Officers Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, he received further
training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Fort Rucker, Alabama; he
served a tour of duty in Vietnam from August 1970 to August 1971;
and
WHEREAS, Returning stateside, Mr. Hince attended the
Intelligence Officers Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and
then served as executive officer of the Interrogation and Document
Analysis Company of the 519th Intelligence Battalion at Fort Bragg,
North Carolina; he received an honorable discharge in 1973 and
embarked on a successful three-decade career in education, working
as a teacher and administrator; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Mr. Hince joined the American Legion as a
member of Post 364 in Woodbridge, Virginia; after retiring to Bryan
in 2005, he joined Earl Graham Post 159, where he has served as
chaplain, adjutant, and first vice commander and twice as
commander; from 2012 to 2014, he was 6th District commander, and
from 2014 to 2015, he was 2nd Division commander; he has also served
on the 100th Anniversary, Long Range Planning, Finance and Budget,
Resolution, and National Convention Delegation Committees, and he
has been a member of the Post 159 board of trustees and the Post
Honor Guard; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Hince enjoys the active
support of his wife, Gerry, a 31-year army veteran who retired at
the rank of colonel; together, they raised three sons, the late John
Hince Jr., Captain Matthew Hince of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, and
Captain Peter Hince of the U.S. Air Force; both Matthew and Peter
are members of Post 159; and
WHEREAS, For more than two decades, John Hince has played a
prominent role in the American Legion, earning the respect and
admiration of his fellow members for his leadership and dedication,
and he may indeed reflect with pride on his many achievements as he
takes on the challenges and opportunities of his new statewide
position; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate John Hince on
his election as state commander of the American Legion, Department
of Texas, and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
success in his important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Hince as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.