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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The passing of Larry Charles Wingert, former |
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| 6 | 7 | | publisher of the Monitor newspaper of McAllen, on January 16, 2021, |
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| 7 | 8 | | at the age of 83, has brought a profound loss to his loved ones and |
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| 8 | 9 | | to the community that he generously served; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Born in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1937, Larry Wingert was |
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| 10 | 11 | | the son of Tom and Thelma Wingert and grew up with a brother, |
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| 11 | 12 | | Darryl; he moved with his family to McAllen in his youth, and after |
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| 12 | 13 | | graduating from McAllen High School, he attended Pan American |
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| 13 | 14 | | College and Sul Ross State University; he first began his career in |
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| 14 | 15 | | the newspaper industry as a paperboy in 1953, and as he learned the |
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| 15 | 16 | | business over four decades, he found employment with the Monitor, |
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| 16 | 17 | | the Valley Morning Star, and the Brownsville Herald, as well as with |
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| 17 | 18 | | publications in Pampa and Odessa and cities in Ohio and New Mexico; |
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| 18 | 19 | | and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Wingert worked throughout Texas, including |
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| 20 | 21 | | several years in the Rio Grande Valley, and he served as publisher |
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| 21 | 22 | | of McAllen's the Monitor from 1977 to 1994; he was beloved by his |
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| 22 | 23 | | employees, whom he always treated with the utmost respect and |
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| 23 | 24 | | appreciation, and his calm, friendly management style helped the |
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| 24 | 25 | | staff navigate the many changes that occurred at the paper during |
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| 25 | 26 | | his 17-year tenure; under his leadership, the publication enjoyed |
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| 26 | 27 | | one of the most successful eras of its history; Mr. Wingert |
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| 27 | 28 | | believed in the value of print news not only as a vital source of |
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| 28 | 29 | | information, but also as a force for good in the community, and he |
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| 29 | 30 | | was known to donate ad space to charities and to utilize the paper |
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| 30 | 31 | | in other ways to promote harmony and unity among neighbors; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, A dedicated volunteer and a supporter of numerous |
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| 32 | 33 | | local organizations and causes, Mr. Wingert was involved with the |
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| 33 | 34 | | McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, the Elks, Easter Seals, |
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| 34 | 35 | | the Rotary Club, and both the Boy and Girl Scouts; moreover, he was |
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| 35 | 36 | | a devout Catholic who attended mass daily, and he also found time to |
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| 36 | 37 | | visit hospice patients and to deliver meals to homebound seniors; |
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| 37 | 38 | | and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Wingert shared nearly 65 years of marriage with |
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| 39 | 40 | | the love of his life, Margaret; he was the devoted father of three |
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| 40 | 41 | | children, Stephan, Ashley, and Stephanie, and he was proud to see |
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| 41 | 42 | | his son follow in his footsteps to become the Monitor's current |
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| 42 | 43 | | publisher; his cherished family further included three |
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| 43 | 44 | | grandchildren, Kathryn, Jackson, and Amber; and |
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| 44 | 45 | | WHEREAS, Larry Wingert will be remembered with great |
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| 45 | 46 | | admiration for his professional achievements and for the myriad |
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| 46 | 47 | | ways he gave of himself to benefit others, and he will be deeply |
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| 47 | 48 | | missed by all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 49 | 50 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Larry Charles Wingert |
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| 50 | 51 | | and extend sincere sympathy to his relatives and friends; and, be it |
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| 51 | 52 | | further |
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| 52 | 53 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 53 | 54 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 54 | 55 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Larry |
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| 55 | 56 | | Charles Wingert. |
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