H.R. No. 1539
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Keith Pendergrass of Austin passed away
on June 21, 2018, at the age of 93, leaving his loved ones to reflect
on a life of meaningful accomplishments and dedicated service to
his country; and
WHEREAS, The son of Lee Roy and Helena Slezinsky Pendergrass,
Robert Pendergrass was born in Kingsville on September 15, 1924,
and he grew up with the companionship of two siblings, William and
Helen; after graduating early from Crozier Technical High School in
downtown Dallas, he enrolled at Texas A&M College in 1941, at age
16; he was one of the few first-semester freshmen to be admitted to
the college's Singing Cadets choral group, and he retained his
passion for singing and music throughout his life; both he and his
brother showcased their vocal talents as regular performers on the
WRR Gospel Hour in Dallas; and
WHEREAS, On December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on
Pearl Harbor, Mr. Pendergrass volunteered for service in the United
States Army, which granted him a deferred induction until the end of
the school year in 1942; assigned to the Medical Corps, he was sent
to Ohio State University and the University of Michigan Medical
School to complete his undergraduate and medical degrees; after
completing his surgical residency at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, he
reenlisted in the U.S. Air Force to assist in the Korean War effort;
he served as chief of surgery for the 3555th Medical Group at Perrin
Air Force Base in Sherman before being promoted to commander of the
3645th Medical Group and Hospital at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del
Rio; and
WHEREAS, In 1953, Dr. Pendergrass entered private practice
as a general family physician and surgeon in Pittsburg; he
continued in that role until 1980, often treating patients on house
calls, as had long been the practice in rural East Texas; during
that time, he also served as medical director for the Medical and
Surgical Hospital of Camp County and as a faculty member of the
medical schools at Louisiana State and Vanderbilt Universities; he
found great fulfillment in caring for local residents, and he also
worked tirelessly to eradicate racial bigotry in the area; in 1964,
he successfully ran for and served as president of the Pittsburg
School Board to help ensure the full integration of the school
system; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Pendergrass shared 67 years of marriage with his
beloved wife, Mary Pendergrass; he took great pride in his four
children and their spouses, Robert Keith Pendergrass and his wife,
Juli, Mary Virginia Lannen and her husband, Rick, Henry Lee
Pendergrass and his wife, Coleen, and Peter William Pendergrass and
his wife, Desiree; with the passing years, the family grew to
include nine grandchildren, Virginia, John, R. H., Anna, Sarah,
Peter, Katie, Abby, and Annie, as well as three
great-grandchildren; Dr. Pendergrass also welcomed into his home a
Swedish exchange student, Janne Zetterqvist, who became like a son
to him; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, Dr. Pendergrass and his wife moved to
Austin, where he worked for the Texas Department of Human Resources
as the deputy commissioner for health policy and programs and as the
special assistant for health affairs; he later became the Texas
state Medicaid director, as well as vice president and medical
director for the National Heritage Insurance Company and a medical
advisor for Electronic Data Systems; he had the distinction of
being appointed by Governor Bill Clements to the Governor's
Coordinating Committee to Facilitate Organ Transplants, and he was
reappointed by Governor Mark White after Governor Clements left
office; and
WHEREAS, Deeply proud of his Texas heritage, Dr. Pendergrass
was a founding member of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum,
which gave him an outlet to share the state's rich history with
friends and acquaintances who visited Austin; he and his wife were
also valued members of St. David's Episcopal Church; after retiring
at age 72, he taught himself Spanish and took up oil painting,
completing several works for his grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Pendergrass was admired and respected
for his considerable gifts and accomplishments, as well as for his
devotion to his family, state, and country, and he will forever
remain a source of inspiration for those he leaves behind; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Robert Keith
Pendergrass and extend sincere sympathy to his family and friends;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
Dr. Pendergrass.
Bucy
Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Noble Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Noble
Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Noble
Allen Guillen Oliverson Allen Guillen Oliverson
Allen Guillen Oliverson
Allison Gutierrez Ortega Allison Gutierrez Ortega
Allison Gutierrez Ortega
Anchia Harless Pacheco Anchia Harless Pacheco
Anchia Harless Pacheco
Anderson Harris Paddie Anderson Harris Paddie
Anderson Harris Paddie
Ashby Hefner Parker Ashby Hefner Parker
Ashby Hefner Parker
Bailes Hernandez Patterson Bailes Hernandez Patterson
Bailes Hernandez Patterson
Beckley Herrero Paul Beckley Herrero Paul
Beckley Herrero Paul
Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Perez Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Perez
Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Perez
Bell of Montgomery Holland Phelan Bell of Montgomery Holland Phelan
Bell of Montgomery Holland Phelan
Bernal Howard Price Bernal Howard Price
Bernal Howard Price
Biedermann Huberty Ramos Biedermann Huberty Ramos
Biedermann Huberty Ramos
Blanco Hunter Raney Blanco Hunter Raney
Blanco Hunter Raney
Bohac Israel Raymond Bohac Israel Raymond
Bohac Israel Raymond
Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Reynolds Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Reynolds
Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Reynolds
Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez
Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez
Buckley Johnson of Harris Romero, Jr. Buckley Johnson of Harris Romero, Jr.
Buckley Johnson of Harris Romero, Jr.
Bucy Kacal Rose Bucy Kacal Rose
Bucy Kacal Rose
Burns King of Hemphill Rosenthal Burns King of Hemphill Rosenthal
Burns King of Hemphill Rosenthal
Burrows King of Parker Sanford Burrows King of Parker Sanford
Burrows King of Parker Sanford
Button King of Uvalde Schaefer Button King of Uvalde Schaefer
Button King of Uvalde Schaefer
Cain Klick Shaheen Cain Klick Shaheen
Cain Klick Shaheen
Calanni Krause Sheffield Calanni Krause Sheffield
Calanni Krause Sheffield
Canales Kuempel Sherman, Sr. Canales Kuempel Sherman, Sr.
Canales Kuempel Sherman, Sr.
Capriglione Lambert Shine Capriglione Lambert Shine
Capriglione Lambert Shine
Clardy Landgraf Smith Clardy Landgraf Smith
Clardy Landgraf Smith
Cole Lang Smithee Cole Lang Smithee
Cole Lang Smithee
Coleman Larson Springer Coleman Larson Springer
Coleman Larson Springer
Collier Leach Stephenson Collier Leach Stephenson
Collier Leach Stephenson
Cortez Leman Stickland Cortez Leman Stickland
Cortez Leman Stickland
Craddick Longoria Stucky Craddick Longoria Stucky
Craddick Longoria Stucky
Cyrier Lopez Swanson Cyrier Lopez Swanson
Cyrier Lopez Swanson
Darby Lozano Talarico Darby Lozano Talarico
Darby Lozano Talarico
Davis of Dallas Lucio III Thierry Davis of Dallas Lucio III Thierry
Davis of Dallas Lucio III Thierry
Davis of Harris Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Davis of Harris Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Dean Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Dean Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Dean Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Deshotel Metcalf Tinderholt Deshotel Metcalf Tinderholt
Deshotel Metcalf Tinderholt
Dominguez Meyer Toth Dominguez Meyer Toth
Dominguez Meyer Toth
Dutton Meza Turner of Dallas Dutton Meza Turner of Dallas
Dutton Meza Turner of Dallas
Farrar Middleton Turner of Tarrant Farrar Middleton Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Middleton Turner of Tarrant
Fierro Miller VanDeaver Fierro Miller VanDeaver
Fierro Miller VanDeaver
Flynn Minjarez Vo Flynn Minjarez Vo
Flynn Minjarez Vo
Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morales White Frullo Morales White
Frullo Morales White
Geren Morrison Wilson Geren Morrison Wilson
Geren Morrison Wilson
Gervin-Hawkins Muñoz, Jr. Wray Gervin-Hawkins Muñoz, Jr. Wray
Gervin-Hawkins Muñoz, Jr. Wray
Goldman Murphy Wu Goldman Murphy Wu
Goldman Murphy Wu
González of Dallas Murr Zedler González of Dallas Murr Zedler
González of Dallas Murr Zedler
González of El Paso Neave Zerwas González of El Paso Neave Zerwas
González of El Paso Neave Zerwas
Goodwin Nevárez Zwiener Goodwin Nevárez Zwiener
Goodwin Nevárez Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1539 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on May 14, 2019.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Noble
Allen Guillen Oliverson
Allison Gutierrez Ortega
Anchia Harless Pacheco
Anderson Harris Paddie
Ashby Hefner Parker
Bailes Hernandez Patterson
Beckley Herrero Paul
Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Perez
Bell of Montgomery Holland Phelan
Bernal Howard Price
Biedermann Huberty Ramos
Blanco Hunter Raney
Bohac Israel Raymond
Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Reynolds
Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez
Buckley Johnson of Harris Romero, Jr.
Bucy Kacal Rose
Burns King of Hemphill Rosenthal
Burrows King of Parker Sanford
Button King of Uvalde Schaefer
Cain Klick Shaheen
Calanni Krause Sheffield
Canales Kuempel Sherman, Sr.
Capriglione Lambert Shine
Clardy Landgraf Smith
Cole Lang Smithee
Coleman Larson Springer
Collier Leach Stephenson
Cortez Leman Stickland
Craddick Longoria Stucky
Cyrier Lopez Swanson
Darby Lozano Talarico
Davis of Dallas Lucio III Thierry
Davis of Harris Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Dean Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Deshotel Metcalf Tinderholt
Dominguez Meyer Toth
Dutton Meza Turner of Dallas
Farrar Middleton Turner of Tarrant
Fierro Miller VanDeaver
Flynn Minjarez Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morales White
Geren Morrison Wilson
Gervin-Hawkins Muñoz, Jr. Wray
Goldman Murphy Wu
González of Dallas Murr Zedler
González of El Paso Neave Zerwas
Goodwin Nevárez Zwiener