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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 life of a beloved figure in the Temple and |
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| 6 | 7 | | Houston sports communities drew to a close with the passing of Gene |
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| 7 | 8 | | Pemberton on January 27, 2019, at the age of 79; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The son of E. M. and Aleyne Pemberton, Gene |
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| 9 | 10 | | Pemberton was born in Cameron on October 27, 1939, and he grew up |
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| 10 | 11 | | with the companionship of two siblings, Stanton and Cheryl; he |
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| 11 | 12 | | graduated from Temple High School and Temple Junior College and |
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| 12 | 13 | | earned a business administration degree from Hardin-Simmons |
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| 13 | 14 | | University in 1962; after joining the American Desk Manufacturing |
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| 14 | 15 | | Company, he rose to the positions of vice president of marketing and |
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| 15 | 16 | | director of special projects during his 31-year tenure with the |
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| 16 | 17 | | company; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, A dedicated sports fan, Mr. Pemberton officiated |
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| 18 | 19 | | basketball and football games, and in 1984 he was awarded lifetime |
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| 19 | 20 | | membership in the Southwest Basketball Officials Association; he |
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| 20 | 21 | | entered the sports broadcast booth in 1986, embarking on a storied |
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| 21 | 22 | | career as the voice of the Temple High School Wildcats football team |
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| 22 | 23 | | that spanned 28 years; providing color commentary for KTEM |
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| 23 | 24 | | NewsRadio 14, Mr. Pemberton partnered with Mark McLain on the |
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| 24 | 25 | | broadcasts, and the pair garnered numerous accolades, including a |
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| 25 | 26 | | prestigious Katie Award from the Press Club of Dallas in 1993; |
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| 26 | 27 | | Mr. Pemberton gave his final broadcast in 2014, detailing the |
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| 27 | 28 | | Wildcats' runner-up finish in the 5A Division 1 state championship |
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| 28 | 29 | | game; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Pemberton joined the Houston Astros |
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| 30 | 31 | | organization in 1994 and initially held the title of director of |
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| 31 | 32 | | community development; in 1997, he was named the team's chaplain, |
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| 32 | 33 | | becoming the first person in Major League Baseball to hold such a |
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| 33 | 34 | | position on a full-time basis; he remained with the club until 2011, |
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| 34 | 35 | | and in the course of his service, he helped develop numerous |
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| 35 | 36 | | outreach initiatives and formed a close bond with numerous players; |
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| 36 | 37 | | and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Pemberton enjoyed the love |
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| 38 | 39 | | and support of his wife, Mary Holick Pemberton, and they shared a |
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| 39 | 40 | | rewarding marriage that spanned 55 years before her passing; he |
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| 40 | 41 | | took great pride in his three children, Gary, Allen, and Lisa, and |
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| 41 | 42 | | he had the pleasure of welcoming into his family five |
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| 42 | 43 | | grandchildren, Brandon, Andrew, Jeffrey, Elisabeth, and Emalye; a |
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| 43 | 44 | | valued member of his community, Mr. Pemberton was involved with |
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| 44 | 45 | | numerous civic activities and served as a deacon at Bethel Church of |
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| 45 | 46 | | the Assemblies of God; and |
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| 46 | 47 | | WHEREAS, Gene Pemberton lived a rich and purposeful life |
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| 47 | 48 | | centered on his family, his faith, and his deep love of sports, and |
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| 48 | 49 | | he will long be remembered and admired by all those who had the good |
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| 49 | 50 | | fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 50 | 51 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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| 51 | 52 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Gene Pemberton and |
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| 52 | 53 | | extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and friends; and, be it |
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| 53 | 54 | | further |
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| 54 | 55 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 55 | 56 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 56 | 57 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Gene |
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| 57 | 58 | | Pemberton. |
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