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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, The family and friends of William Cunningham of San |
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| 6 | 7 | | Marcos suffered an immeasurable loss with his death on April 19, |
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| 7 | 8 | | 2018, at the age of 69; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Bill Cunningham was born in Cuero on March 19, 1949, |
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| 9 | 10 | | to Ellen and Bill Cunningham Sr., and he grew up with a sister, |
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| 10 | 11 | | Kaye; raised in San Antonio, he graduated from Thomas Jefferson |
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| 11 | 12 | | High School in 1967 and studied journalism at Southwest Texas State |
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| 12 | 13 | | University, where he was managing editor of the student paper until |
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| 13 | 14 | | he was fired for his outspoken articles against the Vietnam War; in |
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| 14 | 15 | | 1972, while still in college, he became the first student and the |
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| 15 | 16 | | youngest person ever elected to the San Marcos City Council; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of his life as a writer and activist, |
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| 17 | 18 | | Mr. Cunningham worked in the press department for Jimmy Carter's |
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| 18 | 19 | | 1976 presidential campaign and as a legislative aide to |
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| 19 | 20 | | U.S. Representative J. J. Pickle, and he was appointed by Governor |
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| 20 | 21 | | Ann Richards to the Texas State University System Board of Regents, |
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| 21 | 22 | | which he served as chair; he also operated a successful public |
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| 22 | 23 | | relations business and helped to found the Lyndon Baines Johnson |
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| 23 | 24 | | Museum of San Marcos, where he was a board member and director; |
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| 24 | 25 | | until the end of his life, he remained active in public affairs in |
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| 25 | 26 | | San Marcos, serving on the city's Main Street and Library Boards; |
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| 26 | 27 | | and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Cunningham was an avid reader and book |
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| 28 | 29 | | collector, and he edited a Texas crime fiction anthology, Lone Star |
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| 29 | 30 | | Sleuths, for the Southwestern Writers Collection Book Series; known |
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| 30 | 31 | | as "Billy" or "Wild Bill" to his friends, he was a colorful figure |
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| 31 | 32 | | around town, frequenting coffee shops in his trademark fedora and |
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| 32 | 33 | | sunglasses and delighting his many admirers with his sharp |
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| 33 | 34 | | intellect and his keen satirical wit; he was a devoted husband to |
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| 34 | 35 | | his wife, Nevin, with whom he shared 33 rewarding years of marriage, |
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| 35 | 36 | | and a loving father to their son, Andrew; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, An engaged citizen and an "icon of cool" in his |
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| 37 | 38 | | beloved San Marcos, Bill Cunningham lived a life that was rich in |
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| 38 | 39 | | personal and professional achievements, and memories of time spent |
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| 39 | 40 | | in his company remain to comfort those he leaves behind; now, |
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| 40 | 41 | | therefore, be it |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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| 42 | 43 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of William Cunningham |
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| 43 | 44 | | and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and many friends; |
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| 44 | 45 | | and, be it further |
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| 45 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 46 | 47 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 47 | 48 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of William |
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| 48 | 49 | | Cunningham. |
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