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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, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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| 6 | 7 | | death of Earl B. Middleton Sr. of Houston on April 9, 2021, at the |
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| 7 | 8 | | age of 94; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The son of Howard and Ninnie Middleton, Earl |
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| 9 | 10 | | Middleton was born in Centerville on August 23, 1926, and grew up |
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| 10 | 11 | | with nine siblings, Howard, Bernard, Mary, James, Herod, J. D., |
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| 11 | 12 | | Frank, Leon, and Gladys; he graduated from Phillis Wheatley High |
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| 12 | 13 | | School in Houston and attended Texas Southern University; answering |
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| 13 | 14 | | his nation's call to duty, he served in the U.S. Army and Air Force; |
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| 14 | 15 | | and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Middleton enjoyed a varied career that included |
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| 16 | 17 | | owning and operating a dump truck business, helping to run a school |
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| 17 | 18 | | bus business, and employment with the U.S. Postal Service; he also |
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| 18 | 19 | | held long and rewarding tenures with the Ethel Oil and Gas Company |
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| 19 | 20 | | and Cages Medical Services, working into his 90s; moreover, for |
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| 20 | 21 | | many years, he published The Sales Slip News, and he was a founding |
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| 21 | 22 | | member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Black Heritage |
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| 22 | 23 | | Committee; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Middleton benefited from |
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| 24 | 25 | | the love and support of his wife, the former Alma Billups, with whom |
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| 25 | 26 | | he shared more than six and a half decades of marriage before her |
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| 26 | 27 | | passing; he was the devoted father of five children, Cynthia, |
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| 27 | 28 | | Christopher, Rodney, Bruce, and Earl, and through the years, he was |
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| 28 | 29 | | further blessed with two grandchildren, CeDaniel and Christina, and |
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| 29 | 30 | | three great-grandchildren, Mercedes, Terrell, and Casey; his |
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| 30 | 31 | | circle of loved ones also included numerous nieces, nephews, |
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| 31 | 32 | | in-laws, and extended family members; a man of faith, he took an |
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| 32 | 33 | | active role in Greater Oak Grove Baptist Church, Gospel Hill |
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| 33 | 34 | | Baptist Church, and New Mount Carmel Baptist Church; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Although Earl Middleton is deeply missed, this |
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| 35 | 36 | | beloved man has left his family and friends with many cherished |
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| 36 | 37 | | memories, and he will long be remembered with great affection and |
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| 37 | 38 | | admiration; 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 Earl B. Middleton |
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| 40 | 41 | | Sr. and extend sincere sympathy to his family and friends; and, be |
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| 41 | 42 | | it 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 Earl B. |
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| 45 | 46 | | Middleton Sr. |
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