H.R. No. 1172
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed member of the
Greatest Generation is truly cause for celebration, and Robert
Richard Fegraeus of Dallas marked this momentous milestone in his
life on April 4, 2021, in the company of family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1921, Bob Fegraeus is
the son of Erik and Idaline Fegraeus; he graduated from Central High
School and attended what is now the University of Minnesota Duluth;
coming of age during World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and
became a pilot; he served in the Pacific Theater on the USS
Independence (CVL-22) with VFN-41, the "Shademaids"; his squadron
is considered the first to fly night missions off aircraft carriers
without radar, requiring aviators to read the wake of the carrier
and land by the dim light of smudge pots on the deck; and
WHEREAS, One of the first Hellcat fighter pilots,
Mr. Fegraeus logged over 900 hours in F6Fs, racking up 140 carrier
landings, including 40 at night; on one mission, his plane took
enemy fire through the wing, less than four feet from the cockpit;
he continued to serve following the war, retiring after 22 years in
1964 at the rank of commander; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Fegraeus married Doris "Dorrie" Zimmerman in
Coronado, California; settling in Dallas, they raised three
children, and Mr. Fegraeus worked as a claims manager for Mutual of
Omaha; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship until
Mrs. Fegraeus's passing in 2010; and
WHEREAS, A valued member of his community, Mr. Fegraeus
belongs to East Dallas Christian Church, where he is known for his
dry wit and coffee-making prowess, as well as his derring-do,
although he reportedly gave up skydiving at some point after his
90th birthday; today, he enjoys the love and support of his family,
which has grown to include his daughter, Karin Morgan, and her
husband, Sonny, his sons, Eric and his wife, Susie, and Kurt and his
wife, Susan, and his grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer, Jacob, Kelsey,
Jordan, and Kendall, and great-grandchildren, Drew, Ben, and
Hannah; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Bob Fegraeus has
bravely served his nation and met life's challenges and
opportunities with grace and fortitude, earning the deep admiration
of all who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Robert Richard Fegraeus on his
100th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Fegraeus as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Neave
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1172 was adopted by the House on May
23, 2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House