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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Jacksonville lost an admired |
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community leader and friend with the passing of Mayor Kenneth |
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Melvin on December 2, 2014, at the age of 74; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Melvin was born in Lindale on May 8, 1940, to |
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Cosby Ray and Ocie Algerine Melvin; he graduated from Lindale High |
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School and went on to attend Tyler Junior College, The University of |
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Texas at Tyler, and Dallas Business School; on May 28, 1959, he |
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married Fredia Nell Glaze, and they shared more than 55 years |
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together while lovingly raising a daughter, Ginger; and |
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WHEREAS, This lifelong Texan started his career as an |
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assistant manager and manager for various retailers in East Texas; |
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in 1969, he opened his own grocery business, which he sold in 1977 |
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when he began employment with Southwestern Electric Service Company |
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in Jacksonville; following 32 years of service, he retired from his |
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position as comptroller of the company's business department; and |
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WHEREAS, After completing a training class in Hot Springs, |
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Arkansas, in 1970, Mr. Melvin also enjoyed work as a professional |
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square dance caller; he performed this role at the Jack & Jill Dance |
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Club in Jacksonville and numerous other dance halls around Texas, |
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and he was a guest caller for clubs as far away as Canada and Cancún; |
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moreover, he served his peers in a number of offices, including |
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president of the East Texas Callers Association and vice president |
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of the Texas State Callers' Association, and he was the featured |
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caller at several state festivals; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Melvin's interest in civic affairs led him to |
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join the Jacksonville City Council in 2005; he was elected mayor in |
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2011, and he held that office until the time of his passing; during |
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his tenure with the city, he worked to encourage cooperation in |
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efforts to better the community for all residents, and his business |
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acumen and attention to detail were appreciated by those on the |
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council who had the pleasure of working with him; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his professional accomplishments, |
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Mayor Melvin volunteered for more than a decade with Hospice of East |
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Texas; he was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in |
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Jacksonville; and |
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WHEREAS, Held in high esteem by all who knew him, Kenneth |
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Melvin built a life that was rich in family, friends, and meaningful |
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achievements, and he will be fondly remembered and deeply missed; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable |
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Kenneth Melvin and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Fredia Nell Glaze Melvin; to his daughter, |
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Ginger Nell Melvin Mees; to his grandchildren, Benjamin Joseph Mees |
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and his wife, Sammie Jo, Andrew Brady Melvin, and Melody Kay Melvin; |
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to his great-grandson, Brady James Mees; to his siblings, Martha |
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Rae Phillips and Douglas and Joe Melvin; and to his other relatives |
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and friends; 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 Kenneth |
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Melvin. |