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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 citizens of McKinney lost a valued resident with |
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| 6 | 7 | | the death of John Edward Gay on January 26, 2021, at the age of 91; |
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| 7 | 8 | | and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A native of McKinney, John Gay was born to Morris and |
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| 9 | 10 | | Eleanor Gay on March 9, 1929; after graduating from McKinney Boyd |
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| 10 | 11 | | High School in 1947, he attended Southern Methodist University, |
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| 11 | 12 | | where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1951 and his law degree in |
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| 12 | 13 | | 1954; he subsequently embarked on a successful legal career that |
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| 13 | 14 | | spanned more than six decades and included a 50-year tenure as |
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| 14 | 15 | | general counsel for the North Texas Municipal Water District; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Gay was a member of the McKinney City Council |
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| 16 | 17 | | from 1985 until 1991, and he went on to serve as the city's mayor for |
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| 17 | 18 | | three terms, until 1997; he further contributed to his community |
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| 18 | 19 | | through leadership roles with a number of worthy organizations, |
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| 19 | 20 | | including the McKinney Rotary Club, the Children's Advocacy Center |
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| 20 | 21 | | of Collin County, the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife |
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| 21 | 22 | | Sanctuary, and the McKinney Education Foundation; moreover, he was |
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| 22 | 23 | | a member of the board at First United Methodist Church of McKinney; |
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| 23 | 24 | | and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, In October 1959, Mr. Gay wed the former Judy |
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| 25 | 26 | | Leatherman, and in the course of their 61 years of marriage, they |
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| 26 | 27 | | became the proud parents of three children, Jennifer, John, and |
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| 27 | 28 | | David; with the passing years, he had the privilege of seeing his |
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| 28 | 29 | | family grow to include four grandchildren, Alan, Taylor, Ryan, and |
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| 29 | 30 | | Maggie; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, In recognition of his many accomplishments, Mr. Gay |
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| 31 | 32 | | received the 1999 Citizen of the Year award from the McKinney |
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| 32 | 33 | | Chamber of Commerce; in addition, he and his wife were honored by |
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| 33 | 34 | | the City of McKinney, which named the John & Judy Gay Library in |
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| 34 | 35 | | their honor; and |
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| 35 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Although John Gay's death has brought great sorrow |
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| 36 | 37 | | to his loved ones, his life was an inspiring example of the good |
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| 37 | 38 | | that one person can accomplish; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 39 | 40 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of John Edward Gay and |
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| 40 | 41 | | extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; and, be it |
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| 41 | 42 | | further |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 43 | 44 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 44 | 45 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of John Gay. |
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