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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 city of Belton lost an esteemed community leader |
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| 6 | 7 | | with the passing of former mayor Ira James Covington on December 20, |
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| 7 | 8 | | 2018, at the age of 74; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Jim Covington was born to Ira and Hazel Covington on |
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| 9 | 10 | | December 12, 1944, in Wynnewood, Oklahoma; he embarked on a |
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| 10 | 11 | | successful career in banking and later went into property |
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| 11 | 12 | | management with Covington Rentals; and |
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| 12 | 13 | | WHEREAS, This dedicated public servant gave back to his |
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| 13 | 14 | | fellow residents as a member of the Belton City Council, and he went |
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| 14 | 15 | | on to hold the office of mayor from 2006 to 2014; during his tenure, |
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| 15 | 16 | | he helped create a strategic plan to address the area's rapid |
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| 16 | 17 | | growth, and under his leadership, the city launched the Nolan Creek |
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| 17 | 18 | | improvement project and began work on the Martin Luther King Jr. |
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| 18 | 19 | | Avenue bridge, which opened in 2016; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Covington further contributed to his community |
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| 20 | 21 | | through his involvement with the parks board, the Belton Area |
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| 21 | 22 | | Chamber of Commerce, and the C.A.R.E. Leadership Network, which he |
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| 22 | 23 | | helped found; moreover, he was a valued congregant of First Baptist |
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| 23 | 24 | | Belton, where he was a trustee, deacon, and Sunday school teacher; |
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| 24 | 25 | | in recognition of his many accomplishments, he was named an |
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| 25 | 26 | | honorary alumnus of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Covington enjoyed a rewarding marriage with his |
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| 27 | 28 | | wife, Terri, and he took great pride in his two sons, Barrett and |
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| 28 | 29 | | Dave, and three grandchildren; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Although Jim Covington's death has brought great |
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| 30 | 31 | | sorrow to those who loved him, his life was an inspiring example of |
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| 31 | 32 | | the good that one person can accomplish; now, therefore, be it |
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| 32 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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| 33 | 34 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of former Belton mayor |
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| 34 | 35 | | Ira James "Jim" Covington and extend sincere condolences to all who |
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| 35 | 36 | | mourn his passing; and, be it further |
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| 36 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 37 | 38 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 38 | 39 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jim |
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| 39 | 40 | | Covington. |
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