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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, John M. Turner of Dallas has rendered exceptional |
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service to visually impaired individuals in his community and |
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across the state, and his efforts have enriched the lives of |
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countless Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, After losing his sight completely by age 17, |
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Mr. Turner earned a bachelor of business administration degree in |
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marketing from the University of North Texas, where he was elected |
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student body president; he went on to become one of the most |
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successful insurance agents in Dallas, working first with |
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Massachusetts Mutual and since 1970 as an independent broker; and |
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WHEREAS, A tireless advocate for the visually impaired, |
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Mr. Turner served for more than three decades on the Texas |
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Commission for the Blind, and he was appointed chair of the board by |
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Governors Ann Richards and George W. Bush; he also served for 21 |
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years on the board of Dallas Services for Visually Impaired |
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Children, for 22 years on the board of Dallas Lighthouse for the |
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Blind, and for 23 years on the board of the Retina Foundation of the |
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Southwest; in addition, he has been a member of the boards of Dallas |
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Taping for the Blind and The Seeing Eye, as well as a member of the |
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Texas Committee on Purchases of Products and Services of Blind and |
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Severely Disabled Persons; moreover, he has mentored a number of |
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young men who are blind, encouraging them to persevere in realizing |
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their full potential; and |
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WHEREAS, John Turner has further given of his time and |
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energies to the YMCA, coaching the Park Cities boys baseball team, |
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chairing a membership drive for the downtown Y, and assisting Camp |
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Grady Spruce as a membership quota buster; he has also served on the |
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board of trustees of the Leukemia Society of America Dallas |
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Chapter; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his outstanding civic engagement, |
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Mr. Turner has received a number of well-deserved accolades; The |
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Seeing Eye presented him with the 1995 Morris Frank Award, which |
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honors graduates of The Seeing Eye who have achieved professional |
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success and who have helped to create opportunities for the |
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visually impaired, and in 1997, KRLD News Radio in Dallas named him |
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Citizen of the Week; in 2000, this esteemed Texan received the |
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Catherine T. "Kay" Gallagher Award from the American Foundation for |
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the Blind Southwest; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his life, John Turner has set an |
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inspiring example of leadership and professional excellence, and |
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his significant efforts in behalf of his fellow citizens are truly |
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deserving of commendation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor John M. Turner for his extensive service |
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to those who are visually impaired and for his many other civic |
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contributions and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; |
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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 Mr. Turner as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |