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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 made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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| 6 | 7 | | a close with the passing of Dr. Jimmy D. Pritchard of Forney on |
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| 7 | 8 | | February 24, 2021, at the age of 65; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The son of John Henry Pritchard and Mary Cordelia |
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| 9 | 10 | | Pritchard, Jim Pritchard was born in Fairfield on August 30, 1955, |
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| 10 | 11 | | and grew up with three brothers, Randall, Wayne, and Dan; after |
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| 11 | 12 | | graduating from Sam Houston State University, he went on to earn his |
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| 12 | 13 | | master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological |
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| 13 | 14 | | Seminary; he was called to serve as pastor at First Baptist Church |
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| 14 | 15 | | in Gould, Oklahoma, and then at Elliott Baptist Church near Camden, |
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| 15 | 16 | | Arkansas; while leading Congress Avenue Baptist Church in Austin |
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| 16 | 17 | | for six years, he completed his doctor of ministry degree at |
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| 17 | 18 | | Southwestern; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Pritchard became senior pastor of First Baptist |
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| 19 | 20 | | Church in Forney in 1994; during his distinguished 27-year tenure, |
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| 20 | 21 | | the congregation grew by nearly 7,000 members and relocated to a |
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| 21 | 22 | | larger facility; moreover, it funded $10 million in mission work; |
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| 22 | 23 | | Dr. Pritchard served his denomination in numerous capacities, |
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| 23 | 24 | | including trustee and chair of both Criswell College and the |
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| 24 | 25 | | Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, trustee |
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| 25 | 26 | | of East Texas Baptist University, and president of the Southern |
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| 26 | 27 | | Baptists of Texas Convention; he was a keynote speaker for the 2009 |
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| 27 | 28 | | SBTC Empower Conference and the 2010 SBTC Annual Meeting; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Pritchard was supported by |
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| 29 | 30 | | the love and encouragement of his wife of 41 years, Jeannette Ann |
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| 30 | 31 | | Gilbreath Pritchard; they were blessed with three children, James, |
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| 31 | 32 | | John, and Julie, as well as eight grandchildren, Judah, Jolie, |
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| 32 | 33 | | Josiah, John, Jordan, Hayden, Ty, and Cole; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Although the death of Jim Pritchard has brought |
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| 34 | 35 | | great sorrow to those who loved him, his life was an inspiring |
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| 35 | 36 | | example of the good that one person can accomplish; now, therefore, |
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| 36 | 37 | | be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Jimmy D. |
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| 39 | 40 | | Pritchard and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his |
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| 40 | 41 | | passing; and, be it further |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 43 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 43 | 44 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Jimmy |
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| 44 | 45 | | D. Pritchard. |
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