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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family, friends, and members of the drag racing |
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community are mourning the loss of Charles Beal of San Diego, |
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California, who passed away on July 13, 2017, at the age of 74; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in San Diego on February 6, 1943, to C. W. and |
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Elsie Beal, Chuck Beal grew up with the companionship of his |
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brother, Daniel, and his five sisters, Norma, Ann, Sandy, Lana, and |
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Debbie; while attending Kearny High School, he met the love of his |
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life, the former Karen Rushing, and they wed in 1962, two years |
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after his graduation; they shared a rewarding marriage that spanned |
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more than five decades, and their family grew to include two |
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daughters, Kymi and Teri, three grandsons, Brandon, Tyson, and |
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Dylon, and three great-granddaughters, Celine, Kate, and Claire; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, After holding a position for three years at Solar |
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Turbines, Mr. Beal joined General Atomics, serving as fusion |
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quality assurance manager and non-destructive testing specialist |
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in the nuclear research and development division; toward the end of |
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his career, he worked on the GA electromagnetic aircraft launch |
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system, and he retired in 2014 after nearly half a century with the |
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company; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to the sport of drag racing, Mr. Beal began |
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competing as a driver in 1966 in both front- and rear-engine |
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dragsters, and in the late 1970s, he switched to alcohol funny cars, |
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winning the Winternationals championships in 1982 and 1983 and |
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making a name for himself on the West Coast racing scene as a |
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successful match racer; in the 1990s, he started racing nitro funny |
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cars; and |
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WHEREAS, This veteran driver's cars were known for their |
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bright orange, gold, and blue color schemes and their unique |
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nicknames, such as "Bealmobile" and "Goldie"; the founder and owner |
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of Chuck Beal Racing, Mr. Beal helped launch the racing career of |
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his grandson, Brandon Welch, and served as his crew chief during the |
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National Hot Rod Association's Mello Yello Drag Racing circuit in |
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2016; and |
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WHEREAS, A loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather, |
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and a highly regarded competitor in the racing world, Chuck Beal |
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lived a full and generous life, and the memory of his energy, |
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warmth, and enthusiasm will continue to inspire all those who had |
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the good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Charles Beal and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and many |
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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 Chuck Beal. |