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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, The passing of Deputy Mayor Pro Tem James Nolen |
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| 6 | 7 | | Swafford on December 1, 2020, at the age of 84, has brought great |
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| 7 | 8 | | sadness to his loved ones and to his many friends in the Grand |
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| 8 | 9 | | Prairie community; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Jim Swafford was born in Oklahoma City on July 21, |
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| 10 | 11 | | 1936, to Nolen and Bernice Swafford; a member of the Class of 1955 |
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| 11 | 12 | | at Arlington High School, he went on to graduate from The University |
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| 12 | 13 | | of Texas at Arlington and the Southwestern Graduate School of |
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| 13 | 14 | | Banking at Southern Methodist University; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Swafford enjoyed a rewarding career in the |
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| 15 | 16 | | banking industry before retiring as president and CEO of |
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| 16 | 17 | | NationsBank/Bank of America in 1996; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Dedicated to the betterment of Grand Prairie, |
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| 18 | 19 | | Mr. Swafford was a member of the city council from 1977 to 1979 and |
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| 19 | 20 | | was elected to the District 2 seat in 1998; he served as mayor pro |
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| 20 | 21 | | tem for five terms, and he was known for his sharp analytical skills |
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| 21 | 22 | | and adept handling of the budget process; his other leadership |
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| 22 | 23 | | positions included vice president of the Grand Prairie Sports |
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| 23 | 24 | | Facilities Development Corporation, and he worked in support of the |
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| 24 | 25 | | Tax Increment Financing Districts; and |
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| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Swafford was a longtime board member of the |
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| 26 | 27 | | Methodist Health System in Dallas; moreover, he presided over the |
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| 27 | 28 | | Grand Prairie Independent School District Board of Trustees and the |
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| 28 | 29 | | Grand Prairie Quality of Life Foundation; he was also involved with |
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| 29 | 30 | | many civic organizations, and he belonged to the DeMolay Legion of |
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| 30 | 31 | | Honor; twice recognized as the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce |
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| 31 | 32 | | Member of the Year, he was named Citizen of the Year in 1996 and |
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| 32 | 33 | | received the chamber's Zeus Award two years later; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Swafford drew strength |
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| 34 | 35 | | from the love and support of his wife of nearly six decades, the |
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| 35 | 36 | | former Judy Gipson, who preceded him in death; he was the devoted |
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| 36 | 37 | | father of two children, Robert and Renea, and he also took great |
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| 37 | 38 | | pride in his grandchildren, Jane Anne and Johnson, and |
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| 38 | 39 | | great-grandchildren, Graham and Colby; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Warm and compassionate, Jim Swafford was a devoted |
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| 40 | 41 | | family man and a significant asset to his community, and his |
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| 41 | 42 | | commitment to his loved ones and to Grand Prairie will be remembered |
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| 42 | 43 | | and admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James Nolen Swafford |
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| 45 | 46 | | and extend sincere condolences to his relatives and friends; and, |
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| 46 | 47 | | be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 49 | 50 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jim |
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| 50 | 51 | | Swafford. |
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