| 1 | 1 | | 89R24318 CJM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Spiller H.R. No. 951 |
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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, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Harold |
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| 9 | 9 | | James Hardcastle of Vernon, who passed away on April 9, 2025, at the |
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| 10 | 10 | | age of 93; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Harold Hardcastle was born to Verna Bailey and Joe |
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| 12 | 12 | | Smith Hardcastle on August 18, 1931, in Wheeler and grew up sharing |
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| 13 | 13 | | in the companionship of four siblings, Jo Ann, Donald, Danny, and |
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| 14 | 14 | | Gary; after marrying Patsy Ruth Noah in 1949, he moved with his wife |
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| 15 | 15 | | to College Station and earned a degree in entomology from Texas A&M |
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| 16 | 16 | | University; he subsequently answered his nation's call to duty, |
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| 17 | 17 | | serving with the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps in Georgia and San |
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| 18 | 18 | | Antonio; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle were blessed with three |
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| 20 | 20 | | children, Melinda, Richard, and Philip; Mr. Hardcastle worked in |
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| 21 | 21 | | sales at Stauffer Agricultural Chemicals in Sherman and then for |
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| 22 | 22 | | the American Dusting Company as an independent aerial spraying |
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| 23 | 23 | | contractor in Lockett; becoming the sole owner, he renamed the |
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| 24 | 24 | | business Hardcastle Ag Air, Inc., and opened a second location in |
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| 25 | 25 | | Oklahoma before selling the company in 1997; he and his son Rick |
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| 26 | 26 | | later owned and operated Rolling H Cattle Company; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Engaged in his professional community, |
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| 28 | 28 | | Mr. Hardcastle served as president of both the National and Texas |
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| 29 | 29 | | Agricultural Aviation Associations and held membership in the Texas & |
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| 30 | 30 | | Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; moreover, he was |
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| 31 | 31 | | president of the Rotary Club of Vernon and a member of the Vernon |
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| 32 | 32 | | Independent School District Board of Trustees; a valued congregant |
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| 33 | 33 | | of First Methodist Church, he taught Sunday school and served as |
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| 34 | 34 | | chair of the administrative board, finance committee, and personnel |
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| 35 | 35 | | committee; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Following his wife's passing in 1995, |
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| 37 | 37 | | Mr. Hardcastle became reacquainted with a former classmate, |
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| 38 | 38 | | Dr. Peggy Jo Pletcher, whom he wed in 2000; together, they created a |
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| 39 | 39 | | blended family that included Mr. Hardcastle's stepchildren, |
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| 40 | 40 | | George, David, and Robert, and grandchildren, Christie, Amy, Aaron, |
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| 41 | 41 | | Kelley, Morgan, Ria, Daniel, and Cayce, as well as his 10 |
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| 42 | 42 | | step-grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; and |
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| 43 | 43 | | WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share in this esteemed |
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| 44 | 44 | | man's love and friendship will always remember him with great |
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| 45 | 45 | | admiration and affection; 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 pay tribute to the memory of Harold James |
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| 48 | 48 | | Hardcastle and extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn his |
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| 49 | 49 | | passing; 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 52 | 52 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Harold |
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| 53 | 53 | | Hardcastle. |
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