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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, Residents of San Angelo lost a beloved community |
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| 6 | 7 | | leader with the passing of Byron E. Cleere on October 4, 2021, at |
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| 7 | 8 | | the age of 89; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born in Alice on July 4, 1932, "Sonny" Cleere was the |
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| 9 | 10 | | youngest of four children born to Buford and Myrtle Cleere; a |
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| 10 | 11 | | standout in football and track at Alice High School, he earned a |
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| 11 | 12 | | scholarship to Abilene Christian University; as a Wildcat, he was |
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| 12 | 13 | | captain of the football team and anchored the offensive line as a |
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| 13 | 14 | | guard on a number of talented squads; among his many accolades, he |
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| 14 | 15 | | earned All-Conference and All-American honors; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, In 1954, Mr. Cleere was drafted by the Chicago |
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| 16 | 17 | | Bears, but his career came to an end when he sustained injuries |
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| 17 | 18 | | during a hunting accident; he then coached and taught social |
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| 18 | 19 | | studies for a decade at Ozona High School; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Cleere subsequently moved to San Angelo, where |
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| 20 | 21 | | he enjoyed a successful career as owner of the Meadows, Fisher & |
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| 21 | 22 | | Cleere Insurance company; highly respected in the community, he was |
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| 22 | 23 | | a founding member of the Back the Badge organization and was |
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| 23 | 24 | | instrumental in launching the July 4th Pops Concert and Fireworks |
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| 24 | 25 | | show and the annual San Angelo Support for Veterans Hunt; known for |
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| 25 | 26 | | his rich baritone, he served as the "voice of San Angelo" for 38 |
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| 26 | 27 | | years as announcer at San Angelo Central High School football |
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| 27 | 28 | | games; in 2003, he was named the San Angelo Citizen of the Year by |
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| 28 | 29 | | the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Cleere benefited from the |
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| 30 | 31 | | love and support of his wife, the former Claudia Ketner, and he took |
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| 31 | 32 | | great pride in his four children, Kirk, Ned, Penny, and Courtney |
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| 32 | 33 | | Paige; with the passing years, his family grew to include eight |
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| 33 | 34 | | grandchildren, Jabyn, Jewel, Camille, Claire, Caroline, Sophia, |
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| 34 | 35 | | Victoria, and the late Byron Dixon Cleere; a man of deep faith, he |
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| 35 | 36 | | rose early each morning for Bible study, and he inspired others with |
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| 36 | 37 | | his integrity and generosity; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Sonny Cleere was a force for good in his community |
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| 38 | 39 | | and a dear friend to many, and he will forever be remembered with |
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| 39 | 40 | | deep admiration by all those who were fortunate enough to know him; |
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| 40 | 41 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 42 | 43 | | Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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| 43 | 44 | | of Byron E. Cleere and extend sincere condolences to the members of |
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| 44 | 45 | | his family: to his wife, Claudia Cleere; to his children, Kirk |
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| 45 | 46 | | Cleere and his wife, Patsy, Ned Munoz and his wife, Tammy, Penny |
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| 46 | 47 | | Cleere, and Courtney Paige Fajkus and her husband, Gregg; to his |
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| 47 | 48 | | grandchildren, Jabyn and Jewel Cleere, Camille, Claire, and |
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| 48 | 49 | | Caroline Fajkus, and Sophia and Victoria Munoz; to his sister, |
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| 49 | 50 | | Willodean Ellis; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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| 50 | 51 | | further |
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| 51 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 52 | 53 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 53 | 54 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sonny |
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| 54 | 55 | | Cleere. |
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