| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 224 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed |
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| 3 | 3 | | cause for celebration, and Dr. Ray O. Brooks of Henderson is |
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| 4 | 4 | | marking that special milestone on March 7, 2023; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Born in Emhouse in 1923 to John Thomas "Jack" |
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| 6 | 6 | | Brooks and Laila Ray Brooks, Ray Brooks grew up with three |
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| 7 | 7 | | sisters, Tommye, Elvice, and Vida; answering his nation's call to |
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| 8 | 8 | | duty, he served during World War II as a U.S. Naval Air Force |
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| 9 | 9 | | lieutenant and blimp pilot, conducting enemy U-boat |
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| 10 | 10 | | reconnaissance during his patrols over the Caribbean; after the |
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| 11 | 11 | | war, in 1946, he earned a bachelor's degree from the Agricultural |
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| 12 | 12 | | and Mechanical College of Texas; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Brooks went on to receive a doctorate in |
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| 14 | 14 | | theology from Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary; he served for |
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| 15 | 15 | | 70 years as pastor of Long Branch Missionary Baptist Church, and |
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| 16 | 16 | | he further distinguished himself in his longtime role as |
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| 17 | 17 | | president of the Texas Baptist Institute; he continues to be an |
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| 18 | 18 | | active biblical scholar; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, On September 8, 1945, Dr. Brooks exchanged |
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| 20 | 20 | | wedding vows with the former Mickey Evans, and the couple shared |
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| 21 | 21 | | a rewarding marriage that spanned more than six and a half |
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| 22 | 22 | | decades, until her death in 2013; they became the devoted parents |
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| 23 | 23 | | of two children, Patty and Jack, and today Dr. Brooks also takes |
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| 24 | 24 | | great pride in his two grandchildren, Amanda and Craig, and his |
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| 25 | 25 | | two great-grandchildren, Rainey and Maria; he is a competitive |
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| 26 | 26 | | dominoes player, and he enjoys watching John Wayne movies and |
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| 27 | 27 | | Gunsmoke reruns; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Dr. Ray Brooks has |
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| 29 | 29 | | not only bravely served his nation but has also met the |
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| 30 | 30 | | challenges and opportunities of a long life with grace and |
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| 31 | 31 | | fortitude, and he is blessed with the deep respect and lasting |
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| 32 | 32 | | affection of his loved ones; now, therefore, be it |
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| 33 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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| 34 | 34 | | Legislature, hereby congratulate Dr. Ray O. Brooks on the joyous |
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| 35 | 35 | | occasion of his 100th birthday and extend to him sincere best |
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| 36 | 36 | | wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further |
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| 37 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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| 38 | 38 | | prepared for Dr. Brooks as an expression of high regard from the |
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| 39 | 39 | | Texas Senate. |
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| 40 | 40 | | Hughes |
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| 41 | 41 | | ________________________________ |
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| 42 | 42 | | President of the Senate |
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| 43 | 43 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 44 | 44 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 45 | 45 | | the Senate on February 28, 2023. |
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| 46 | 46 | | ________________________________ |
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| 47 | 47 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 48 | 48 | | ________________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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