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| 5 | 6 | | |
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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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| 8 | 9 | | a close with the passing of John Centilli of Waxahachie on |
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| 9 | 10 | | November 7, 2024, at the age of 95; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The son of F. L. and Mary Centilli, "J. D." Centilli |
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| 11 | 12 | | was born in Del Rio on October 31, 1929, and he grew up with the |
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| 12 | 13 | | companionship of six siblings, Florine, Bill, Junior, Frank, |
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| 13 | 14 | | Gerald, and Pat; a talented athlete, he ran track and played |
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| 14 | 15 | | football and basketball in high school, and while attending Texas |
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| 15 | 16 | | A&M University, he was a member of the Aggie football team; after |
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| 16 | 17 | | earning his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1952, he |
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| 17 | 18 | | served for two years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, receiving |
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| 18 | 19 | | the National Defense Service Medal; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Following his tenure in the military, Mr. Centilli |
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| 20 | 21 | | returned to Texas A&M to obtain his master's degree in education; |
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| 21 | 22 | | while there, he met the love of his life, the former Pauline |
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| 22 | 23 | | Malazzo; the couple married on June 18, 1960, and they became the |
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| 23 | 24 | | proud parents of three sons, Doug, Jeff, and Greg; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Centilli enjoyed a long and rewarding career as |
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| 25 | 26 | | an educator, coach, and administrator; as a high school football |
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| 26 | 27 | | coach, his teams won multiple district championships and advanced |
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| 27 | 28 | | to the state finals; he ultimately became the assistant |
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| 28 | 29 | | superintendent of schools for the Waxahachie Independent School |
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| 29 | 30 | | District, where he retired in 1991; among his numerous accolades, |
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| 30 | 31 | | he was inducted into the Coastal Bend Coaches Association Hall of |
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| 31 | 32 | | Honor in 2000; and |
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| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Centilli was a member |
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| 33 | 34 | | of the Knights of Columbus and president of the Waxahachie Lions |
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| 34 | 35 | | Club; he took pleasure in spending time on his land, tending to his |
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| 35 | 36 | | peach orchard, welding, and woodworking; a man of faith, he was a |
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| 36 | 37 | | longtime parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, While the passing of J. D. Centilli brings great |
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| 38 | 39 | | sadness to his family and friends, he leaves behind a legacy that |
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| 39 | 40 | | will long be treasured by all those who held him dear; now, |
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| 40 | 41 | | therefore, be it |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 42 | 43 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of John Centilli and that |
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| 43 | 44 | | sincere condolences be extended to the members of his family: to his |
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| 44 | 45 | | wife, Pauline Centilli; to his sons, Doug, Jeff, and Greg Centilli; |
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| 45 | 46 | | to his brother, Pat Centilli, and his wife, Martha; and to his other |
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| 46 | 47 | | relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 49 | 50 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of J. D. |
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| 50 | 51 | | Centilli. |
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