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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of Harrell Benge Rice of El Paso on June |
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5, 2013, at the age of 86, has brought a great loss to the loved ones |
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of this proud lifelong Texan; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Brownwood on March 7, 1927, Harrell Rice was |
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the son of Berniece Walker and Irving Grady Rice; he attended |
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Brownwood High School, and on graduating in 1944, he enlisted in the |
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U.S. Navy; assigned as a yeoman third class to the Pacific theater, |
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he earned a number of decorations for his commendable service and |
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later continued his military career in the Texas National Guard; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Settling back into civilian life, Mr. Rice took |
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courses at The University of Texas at Austin; he subsequently |
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returned to his hometown to enroll at Howard Payne University, |
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where he earned a bachelor's degree, followed by a master's degree |
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from Southwestern Christian Seminary; musically talented, he |
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played the clarinet in the bands at UT and at Howard Payne, as well |
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as with the Old Gray Mare Community Band; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rice began his professional career as a teacher |
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in Lampasas and went on to join the Southwestern States Telephone |
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Company; he later moved to San Angelo to work as an accountant for |
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GTE, and from there he retired in 1988; for a number of years, he |
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owned several hundred acres of land in Central Texas on which he |
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raised cattle, tried his hand at farming, and enjoyed particular |
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success with dove hunting; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rice exchanged vows with the former Betty Jo |
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"Doe" Jenkins in 1948, and over the course of their four decades |
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together, they became the parents of a beloved son, Rell; Mrs. Rice |
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passed away in 1988; and |
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WHEREAS, For 35 years, Mr. Rice made annual trips to Ruidoso, |
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New Mexico, where he was taken by the beauty of the mountains and |
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the excitement of the race track; on one of these vacations, he met |
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Louise Katz, with whom he formed a special bond that evolved into |
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marriage; the couple made their home in El Paso from 1996 until the |
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time of his passing; and |
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WHEREAS, This gregarious Texan smoked a phenomenal barbecue |
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brisket, sold homemade "zingers" pickles, hosted popular parties, |
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danced every week, and relished every meal as the "best he'd ever |
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had"; he was a fixture at UT football games against the Aggies and |
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Sooners and was known to remark with certainty that "it couldn't |
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happen to a better group" when the Longhorns pulled out a victory; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Harrell Rice possessed a contagious zest for life, |
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an unfailing patience, and a genuine love and respect for others; |
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although he will be deeply missed, he leaves behind an inspiring |
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example and a wealth of memories that will be forever treasured by |
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all those who were blessed to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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Harrell Benge Rice and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Louise Katz Rice; to his son, Rell Rice, and |
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his wife, Betty; to his grandchildren, Trevor and Julia Rice; to his |
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sister, Jacquelyn Powell; and to his other relatives and friends; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Harrell |
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Rice. |