H.R. No. 555



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel Lance C. Wade of Reklaw 
demonstrated extraordinary courage during his valiant service in 
World War II; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Broaddus in 1915, Lt. Col. Wade joined 
Britain's Royal Air Force before the United States had officially 
entered the war; the State of Texas provided more volunteers for the 
RAF than any other state, and, in less than three years, Lt. Col. 
Wade climbed the ranks of the British military to achieve the status 
of wing commander; he eventually became the top American fighter 
pilot, flying Hurricanes and Spitfires in the North African 
campaign, and achieving 25 victories, an unprecedented number for 
an American fighter ace serving exclusively in a foreign air force; 
and
	WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Wade was rewarded for his considerable 
efforts with the Distinguished Flying Cross with two bars, 
representing three awards, and a Distinguished Service Order; and
	WHEREAS, From a farm in East Texas, where he was raised, to 
sharing tea with King George VI and meeting President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt, Lt. Col. Wade aptly described his fortuitous path when 
he said, "Before the RAF my life consisted of surveying land [from 
the backside] of a mule. Now I have had tea with the King of England 
and his family."; and
	WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Wade's family and friends mourned his 
passing while serving his country on January 12, 1944, in Foggia, 
Italy, but they took comfort in knowing that he lived a fulfilling 
life, dedicated to patriotism and freedom; this distinguished 
fighter ace represented the essential relationship between Britain 
and the United States during World War II, and it is a pleasure to 
recognize his admirable achievements; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Lieutenant Colonel 
Lance C. Wade as a true American hero and extend to his descendants 
the immeasurable gratitude of the State of Texas for his ultimate 
sacrifice for his country.

                                                                          Hopson


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 555 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on March 23, 2005.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House