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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Clifton Belcher Benton of Carrollton passed away on |
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| 6 | 7 | | October 31, 2020, at the age of 82, leaving behind a wealth of loved |
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| 7 | 8 | | ones and friends to cherish his memory; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born on June 9, 1938, Mr. Benton was an alumnus of |
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| 9 | 10 | | the University of Georgia, where he pledged Kappa Sigma Fraternity; |
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| 10 | 11 | | he answered the call to serve his country as a member of the United |
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| 11 | 12 | | States Air Force, and while stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force |
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| 12 | 13 | | Base, he met his future wife, the former Evelyn Walker, with whom he |
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| 13 | 14 | | shared 52 years of marriage; during his time on the base, he was |
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| 14 | 15 | | twice cited for his work performance with Strategic Air Command |
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| 15 | 16 | | 4043; he and Mrs. Benton were later transferred to Washington, |
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| 16 | 17 | | D.C., where they became two of the seven original members of the |
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| 17 | 18 | | Defense Supply Agency; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, After spending two years at the nation's capital, |
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| 19 | 20 | | Mr. Benton worked for a decade for District Photo Inc.; he then |
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| 20 | 21 | | returned to Georgia, going on to own and operate three print |
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| 21 | 22 | | companies; he and his family subsequently relocated to Dallas, |
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| 22 | 23 | | where he opened the Dreamhouse Furniture and Interior store and |
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| 23 | 24 | | operated it until his retirement; in addition to contributing to |
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| 24 | 25 | | his community as a business leader, he was an active Democratic |
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| 25 | 26 | | Party chair in Carrollton, and during elections, he could always be |
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| 26 | 27 | | found outside the Josey Ranch Library polling location encouraging |
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| 27 | 28 | | people to vote; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Benton and his wife devotedly raised three |
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| 29 | 30 | | daughters, Deborah, Lisa, and Stephanie, and he was blessed to be |
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| 30 | 31 | | the grandfather of five cherished grandchildren, Jake, Taylor, |
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| 31 | 32 | | Connor, Trey, and Emmy; he enjoyed the love and companionship of his |
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| 32 | 33 | | family, and with his magnetic personality and his inherently |
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| 33 | 34 | | welcoming nature, he also endeared himself to many friends; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to know Clifton Benton |
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| 35 | 36 | | will forever remember his warmth, his generosity, and his wonderful |
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| 36 | 37 | | sense of humor, and he will always hold a treasured place in their |
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| 37 | 38 | | hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 39 | 40 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Clifton Belcher |
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| 40 | 41 | | Benton and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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| 41 | 42 | | his daughters, Deborah McCarthy and her husband, Ed, Lisa Neel, and |
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| 42 | 43 | | Stephanie Wade and her husband, Guy; to his grandchildren, Jake |
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| 43 | 44 | | Wade, Taylor Neel, Connor McCarthy, Trey Neel, and Emmy Wade; to his |
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| 44 | 45 | | sisters, Mary Elizabeth Benton Whatley and Lillian Benton Wilson; |
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| 45 | 46 | | and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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| 46 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 47 | 48 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 48 | 49 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Clifton |
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| 49 | 50 | | Belcher Benton. |
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