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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of Michael William Lehr, former executive |
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director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association, on January 17, |
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2019, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on December 22, 1929, to Louisa and George Lehr |
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at his family's farm in Wall, Mike Lehr was the youngest of five |
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children; he experienced the tragic loss of both his mother and |
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father at an early age and was raised by his maternal aunt and her |
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husband, Betty and John Mees; the family moved to Abilene during his |
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early childhood, and he distinguished himself in high school as a |
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football player and a member of the track team; following his |
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graduation from Abilene High School in 1948, he enrolled at McMurry |
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College, where he earned his bachelor's degree and, later, a |
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master's degree; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lehr became a teacher and coach in Christoval in |
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1952, and from there, he went on to work for the school districts in |
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Eola and San Angelo; after transitioning into administration, he |
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served as principal of Travis Elementary, Bowie Elementary, and |
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John Glenn Jr. High in San Angelo, and in 1971 he accepted a |
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position as assistant director of special programs with Austin ISD; |
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he was promoted many times during his tenure with that district, and |
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he retired as its executive director of personnel in 1985; his |
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experience also encompassed service as a legislative aide to State |
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Representative Tom C. Massey in the 1970s and as a founder and |
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president of the Association for Compensatory Educators of Texas; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement from Austin ISD, Mr. Lehr |
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performed contract work for the Texas Association of School Boards, |
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and in 1987 he became the legislative coordinator for the Texas |
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Retired Teachers Association; in that role, he successfully |
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supported legislation that funded a much-needed pay increase for |
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retired educators, an achievement that won him an outpouring of |
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gratitude; he was named the organization's executive director in |
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1994, and he continued to work in behalf of the association's |
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members until his retirement in 2003; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Lehr enjoyed the love and |
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support of his wife of 44 years, Francine Lehr; he was the proud |
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father of three children, Richard, Alan, and Susan, and with the |
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passing years, he saw his family grow to include his grandchildren, |
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Ellen, Grant, William, and Abigail, and a great-granddaughter, |
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Finley; and |
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WHEREAS, A respected educator and an effective advocate for |
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the teaching profession, Mike Lehr made a positive difference in |
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the lives of numerous Texans, and he leaves behind a legacy that |
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will continue to resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Michael William |
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Lehr and extend sincere sympathy to his family and many 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 Mike Lehr. |