| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Autry Carl Stephens, a giant of the Permian Basin's |
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| 8 | 9 | | oil and gas industry, passed away on August 16, 2024, at the age of |
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| 9 | 10 | | 86, bringing a great loss to his family and many friends; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The son of Martin Elmore Stephens and Lila "Hazel" |
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| 11 | 12 | | Stephens, Autry Stephens was born in De Leon on March 8, 1938; he |
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| 12 | 13 | | grew up on the family farm and earned both his bachelor's and |
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| 13 | 14 | | master's degrees in petroleum engineering from The University of |
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| 14 | 15 | | Texas at Austin; during his early years with Humble Oil, he was |
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| 15 | 16 | | granted a leave of absence to serve in the U.S. Army Corps of |
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| 16 | 17 | | Engineers and rose to the rank of first lieutenant; he went on to |
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| 17 | 18 | | join First National Bank of Midland as a petroleum engineer and loan |
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| 18 | 19 | | officer before becoming a consultant and then an independent oil |
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| 19 | 20 | | producer; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens established Endeavor Energy Resources |
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| 21 | 22 | | in 2000, and his diligence, determination, and willingness to take |
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| 22 | 23 | | bold risks built the company into a multibillion dollar enterprise |
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| 23 | 24 | | ranked among the nation's largest private oil producers; dedicated |
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| 24 | 25 | | to his employees, he was a caring, generous mentor and celebrated |
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| 25 | 26 | | all their achievements; he believed in handshake deals and enjoyed |
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| 26 | 27 | | the camaraderie of his profession, especially over a cup of coffee |
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| 27 | 28 | | at the Petroleum Club of Midland; under his leadership, Endeavor |
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| 28 | 29 | | engaged in extensive philanthropy, helping fund a new volunteer |
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| 29 | 30 | | fire station in eastern Midland County and supporting such |
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| 30 | 31 | | organizations as Habitat for Humanity and the Museum of the |
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| 31 | 32 | | Southwest; moreover, the firm became a founding member of the |
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| 32 | 33 | | Permian Strategic Partnership, a group of energy companies united |
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| 33 | 34 | | in the goal of improving education, health care, housing, |
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| 34 | 35 | | infrastructure, and workforce development; his myriad accolades |
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| 35 | 36 | | included a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Texas Exes and the |
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| 36 | 37 | | prestigious Top Hand Award from the Permian Basin Petroleum |
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| 37 | 38 | | Association; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Stephens was devoted to his wife, |
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| 39 | 40 | | Linda, and their children, Joe and Lyndal; he eventually knew the |
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| 40 | 41 | | joy of welcoming two grandchildren into his treasured family, and |
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| 41 | 42 | | he delighted in hearing and sharing stories about all their antics |
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| 42 | 43 | | and accomplishments; and |
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| 43 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Autry Stephens created a legacy that will resonate |
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| 44 | 45 | | in the Permian Basin for years to come, and those he left behind |
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| 45 | 46 | | will cherish their memories of his warmth, kindness, courage, and |
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| 46 | 47 | | wonderfully dry sense of humor; now, therefore, be it |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 48 | 49 | | hereby pay tribute to the life of Autry Carl Stephens and extend |
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| 49 | 50 | | sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Linda |
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| 50 | 51 | | Nagy Stephens; to his children, Joseph Stephens and his wife, |
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| 51 | 52 | | Deanna, and Lyndal Stephens Greth and her husband, Richard; to his |
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| 52 | 53 | | grandchildren; to his sister, Debra, and her husband, Jack; and to |
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| 53 | 54 | | his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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| 54 | 55 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 55 | 56 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 56 | 57 | | Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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| 57 | 58 | | Autry Stephens. |
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