| 1 | 1 | | 89R12859 BPG-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Cain H.R. No. 174 |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed member of the |
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| 9 | 9 | | Greatest Generation is truly cause for celebration, and Cecil V. |
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| 10 | 10 | | Newton of Highlands is marking this momentous milestone in his life |
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| 11 | 11 | | on March 5, 2025; and |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Born to Ruby and Jessie Newton in 1925, Cecil Newton |
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| 13 | 13 | | grew up on a farm in Highlands; he began working at Exxon at the age |
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| 14 | 14 | | of 18 but received his draft notice in September 1944; before |
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| 15 | 15 | | deploying as an infantryman in the U.S. Army, he married his |
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| 16 | 16 | | fiancée, the former Selma Ruth Waldrep; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Newton served in Germany with the 87th Division, |
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| 18 | 18 | | 345th Platoon, Company E, 3rd Squad; after surviving combat at |
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| 19 | 19 | | Koblenz in Germany, he crossed the Rhine at Boppard under heavy fire |
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| 20 | 20 | | and helped clear out snipers; his company nearly reached Berlin by |
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| 21 | 21 | | VE Day and then proceeded to liberate concentration camps; |
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| 22 | 22 | | following demobilization, Mr. Newton remained in the reserve, and |
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| 23 | 23 | | over the years, he maintained warm friendships that he had formed |
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| 24 | 24 | | early in his service; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Returning to Exxon in civilian life, Mr. Newton |
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| 26 | 26 | | became a journeyman machinist; he took advantage of the GI Bill to |
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| 27 | 27 | | complete his bachelor's degree cum laude at the University of |
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| 28 | 28 | | Houston in 1959; during a career that spanned more than four decades |
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| 29 | 29 | | with Exxon, he seized every opportunity to learn new things, |
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| 30 | 30 | | earning myriad certificates; his many accomplishments included two |
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| 31 | 31 | | patents, and he gained a reputation as an ace problem solver; he |
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| 32 | 32 | | rose to become a staff engineer in the Baytown Refinery's technical |
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| 33 | 33 | | division; in his free time, he earned his pilot's license; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Newton and his wife raised three children, Judy, |
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| 35 | 35 | | Richard, and Douglas, and through the years, their treasured family |
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| 36 | 36 | | has grown to include four grandchildren and many |
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| 37 | 37 | | great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; the Newtons |
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| 38 | 38 | | were active in Trinity Tabernacle Assembly of God Church, where for |
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| 39 | 39 | | nearly four decades Mr. Newton ran the sound systems and assisted |
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| 40 | 40 | | with radio broadcasts; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship |
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| 41 | 41 | | of 71 years until Mrs. Newton's passing in 2015; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Cecil Newton has |
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| 43 | 43 | | inspired innumerable people through his courage, integrity, and |
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| 44 | 44 | | devotion to his family, and he continues to enrich the lives of all |
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| 45 | 45 | | who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 46 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 47 | 47 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Cecil V. Newton on the joyous |
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| 48 | 48 | | occasion of his 100th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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| 49 | 49 | | for continued happiness; and, be it further |
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| 50 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 51 | 51 | | prepared for Mr. Newton as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 52 | 52 | | House of Representatives. |
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