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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 life dedicated to the service of his nation and his |
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| 6 | 7 | | community drew to a close with the death of Randall County Judge |
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| 7 | 8 | | Ernie Houdashell on November 22, 2020, at the age of 74; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Ernie Houdashell was born in Clarendon on November |
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| 9 | 10 | | 21, 1946, to Ernest and Della Houdashell, and he grew up in Hedley |
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| 10 | 11 | | with two sisters, Pat and Loveta; and |
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| 11 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty, Mr. Houdashell |
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| 12 | 13 | | enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966 and served two tours of duty in |
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| 13 | 14 | | Vietnam with the 191st Assault Helicopter Company as a Huey |
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| 14 | 15 | | helicopter mechanic, crew chief, and door gunner; in 1968, he |
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| 15 | 16 | | received the Air Medal for flying more than 25 missions in hostile |
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| 16 | 17 | | territory within a six-day period, and he was honorably discharged |
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| 17 | 18 | | in February 1969; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Returning to civilian life, Mr. Houdashell was |
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| 19 | 20 | | employed by Bell Helicopter for four years, and he also studied |
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| 20 | 21 | | journalism at Amarillo College and earned a business degree at West |
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| 21 | 22 | | Texas State University; in 1973, he joined KGNC Radio as an |
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| 22 | 23 | | agricultural reporter, and he went on to cover agriculture |
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| 23 | 24 | | nationally with the Radio Farm Directors; in addition, he produced |
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| 24 | 25 | | a weekly agricultural report for radio stations in four states, the |
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| 25 | 26 | | American Cotton Network; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, In 1985, Mr. Houdashell embarked on a new career in |
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| 27 | 28 | | politics, serving first as district director for U.S. |
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| 28 | 29 | | Representative Beau Bolter and then as district director for State |
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| 29 | 30 | | Representative John Smithee, a position he held until he was |
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| 30 | 31 | | elected as Randall County judge in 2002; as head of the Randall |
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| 31 | 32 | | County commissioners court for 18 years, he oversaw the creation of |
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| 32 | 33 | | a new justice center, a new Amarillo annex, and a new fire station |
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| 33 | 34 | | and events center, and he also played a leading role in the |
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| 34 | 35 | | development of the Randall County Veterans Park and the Panhandle |
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| 35 | 36 | | War Memorial; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Houdashell benefited from |
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| 37 | 38 | | the love and support of his wife of 50 years, Sandy, and he took |
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| 38 | 39 | | great pride in his three children, Scott, Clay, and Michele, and his |
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| 39 | 40 | | six grandchildren, Jordyn, Beck, Alexander, Indeh, Elizabeth, and |
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| 40 | 41 | | Bridger; and |
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| 41 | 42 | | WHEREAS, A devoted family man, a proud veteran, and a true |
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| 42 | 43 | | champion for his community, Ernie Houdashell lived a rich and |
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| 43 | 44 | | purposeful life, and he leaves behind a legacy of service to others |
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| 44 | 45 | | that will continue to inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, |
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| 45 | 46 | | therefore, be it |
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| 46 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 47 | 48 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Ernie |
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| 48 | 49 | | Houdashell and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and many |
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| 49 | 50 | | friends; and, be it further |
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| 50 | 51 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 51 | 52 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 52 | 53 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ernie |
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| 53 | 54 | | Houdashell. |
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