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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 rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
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| 6 | 7 | | passing of James B. Prewitt, who passed away on April 10, 2021, at |
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| 7 | 8 | | the age of 80; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Jim Prewitt was born on November 13, 1940, and he was |
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| 9 | 10 | | raised on the family farm near Kirbyville, where he developed a |
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| 10 | 11 | | lifelong love and appreciation for agriculture; at a young age, he |
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| 11 | 12 | | lost his arm in a farming accident, a traumatic experience that |
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| 12 | 13 | | ultimately helped reinforce his resilient spirit and never deterred |
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| 13 | 14 | | him from hard work; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Prewitt attended Sam Houston State University |
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| 15 | 16 | | and met the woman who would be his partner in life, love, and |
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| 16 | 17 | | business, Paula Biggs; they shared 58 years of marriage and were |
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| 17 | 18 | | blessed with three daughters, and they cherished time spent with |
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| 18 | 19 | | their children and grandchildren at the family retreat on the |
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| 19 | 20 | | Sabine River; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Prewitt served as a congressional intern in |
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| 21 | 22 | | Washington, D.C., which sparked his abiding interest in policy and |
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| 22 | 23 | | politics; he returned to Texas and established Landmark Nurseries, |
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| 23 | 24 | | Incorporated, and under his guidance as chief executive officer, |
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| 24 | 25 | | the company evolved into one of the largest wholesale nursery |
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| 25 | 26 | | distributors in the southern United States; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Prewitt gave |
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| 27 | 28 | | extensively of his time and funds to charitable, civic, and |
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| 28 | 29 | | professional organizations, and he was an ardent supporter of |
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| 29 | 30 | | several Texas livestock shows and rodeos; his philanthropy extended |
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| 30 | 31 | | to Texas universities, and his generosity enriched the lives of |
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| 31 | 32 | | thousands of children in FFA and 4-H programs; he received numerous |
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| 32 | 33 | | honors for his contributions, including the Texas Agricultural |
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| 33 | 34 | | Lifetime Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award; a man of many |
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| 34 | 35 | | talents, he was admired for his skill in business, bass fishing, and |
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| 35 | 36 | | storytelling; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, In both his professional career and his volunteer |
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| 37 | 38 | | efforts, Mr. Prewitt had an indelible impact on the entire Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | green industry; he led the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association |
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| 39 | 40 | | Political Action Committee as chair and was an active member of the |
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| 40 | 41 | | board for many years; due to his lifetime commitment to the green |
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| 41 | 42 | | industry, he was awarded the TNLA Arp Award, the Texas industry's |
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| 42 | 43 | | highest individual recognition; and |
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| 43 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Jim Prewitt embraced life to the fullest, and he |
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| 44 | 45 | | will forever remain a vibrant presence for those who knew and loved |
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| 45 | 46 | | him; now, 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 life of James B. Prewitt and |
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| 48 | 49 | | extend sincere condolences to his relatives and friends; and, be it |
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| 49 | 50 | | 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 Jim |
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| 53 | 54 | | Prewitt. |
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