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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 100th birthday of an esteemed member of the |
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| 6 | 7 | | Greatest Generation is truly cause for celebration, and Robert |
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| 7 | 8 | | Richard Fegraeus of Dallas marked this momentous milestone in his |
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| 8 | 9 | | life on April 4, 2021, in the company of family and friends; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1921, Bob Fegraeus is |
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| 10 | 11 | | the son of Erik and Idaline Fegraeus; he graduated from Central High |
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| 11 | 12 | | School and attended what is now the University of Minnesota Duluth; |
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| 12 | 13 | | coming of age during World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and |
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| 13 | 14 | | became a pilot; he served in the Pacific Theater on the USS |
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| 14 | 15 | | Independence (CVL-22) with VFN-41, the "Shademaids"; his squadron |
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| 15 | 16 | | is considered the first to fly night missions off aircraft carriers |
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| 16 | 17 | | without radar, requiring aviators to read the wake of the carrier |
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| 17 | 18 | | and land by the dim light of smudge pots on the deck; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, One of the first Hellcat fighter pilots, |
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| 19 | 20 | | Mr. Fegraeus logged over 900 hours in F6Fs, racking up 140 carrier |
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| 20 | 21 | | landings, including 40 at night; on one mission, his plane took |
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| 21 | 22 | | enemy fire through the wing, less than four feet from the cockpit; |
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| 22 | 23 | | he continued to serve following the war, retiring after 22 years in |
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| 23 | 24 | | 1964 at the rank of commander; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Fegraeus married Doris "Dorrie" Zimmerman in |
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| 25 | 26 | | Coronado, California; settling in Dallas, they raised three |
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| 26 | 27 | | children, and Mr. Fegraeus worked as a claims manager for Mutual of |
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| 27 | 28 | | Omaha; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship until |
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| 28 | 29 | | Mrs. Fegraeus's passing in 2010; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, A valued member of his community, Mr. Fegraeus |
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| 30 | 31 | | belongs to East Dallas Christian Church, where he is known for his |
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| 31 | 32 | | dry wit and coffee-making prowess, as well as his derring-do, |
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| 32 | 33 | | although he reportedly gave up skydiving at some point after his |
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| 33 | 34 | | 90th birthday; today, he enjoys the love and support of his family, |
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| 34 | 35 | | which has grown to include his daughter, Karin Morgan, and her |
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| 35 | 36 | | husband, Sonny, his sons, Eric and his wife, Susie, and Kurt and his |
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| 36 | 37 | | wife, Susan, and his grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer, Jacob, Kelsey, |
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| 37 | 38 | | Jordan, and Kendall, and great-grandchildren, Drew, Ben, and |
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| 38 | 39 | | Hannah; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Bob Fegraeus has |
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| 40 | 41 | | bravely served his nation and met life's challenges and |
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| 41 | 42 | | opportunities with grace and fortitude, earning the deep admiration |
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| 42 | 43 | | of all who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Robert Richard Fegraeus on his |
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| 45 | 46 | | 100th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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| 46 | 47 | | happiness; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for Mr. Fegraeus as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 49 | 50 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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