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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Ruth Walker Polan of Nixon on January 13, 2013, at the |
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age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Tom and Hertha Walker, the former |
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Ruthie Walker was born in Nixon on April 8, 1928; she grew up during |
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the Great Depression and demonstrated her resourcefulness at an |
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early age, earning money by cleaning a local church; as a teenager, |
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she found a job at the drugstore soda fountain, where a customer |
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named Glenn Polan developed the habit of stopping by on a daily |
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basis for a scoop of ice cream and a chat; they later married and |
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became the proud parents of two sons, Glenn and Ted; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Polan was employed as a clothes buyer for |
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Joske's department store and as a civil servant in San Antonio |
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before embarking on a distinguished career in education; she held |
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both a bachelor's and a master's degree and served a number of |
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school districts as a teacher and administrator; following Mr. |
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Polan's retirement, she joined him in founding an international |
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tour and travel company, which allowed her to fulfill her dream of |
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seeing the world; the couple visited more than 70 different |
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countries, and she started an import company, Ruthie's of Houston, |
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which turned into a successful wholesale jewelry business; and |
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WHEREAS, While pursuing a busy professional life, Mrs. Polan |
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never failed to put her loved ones first; she found time to whip up |
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fabulous dishes, and her recipes became staples at gatherings of |
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her large extended family, which grew to include five grandsons, |
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Thomas, Parker, Walker, William, and Chance; and |
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WHEREAS, This kind and compassionate Texan mentored |
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innumerable people, and during the time her husband served as the |
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director of the Methodist Student Center in Huntsville, Mrs. Polan |
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took in many young women who needed a place to stay, often giving |
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them clothing as well as food and shelter; when homeless men showed |
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up at the door, she gave them food, a smile, and sometimes a little |
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spare cash from the cookie jar; with a boundless will to serve, she |
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was always the first to deliver a meal to an ailing friend, |
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volunteer for a church garage sale, or organize opposition to a |
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highway that threatened quality of life in the neighborhood; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, Mrs. Polan faced any challenges |
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she met with grace, and whatever transpired, she remained a source |
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of joy and inspiration; she also continued to share with her husband |
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their special daily ritual, an afternoon ice cream treat; and |
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WHEREAS, Ruthie Polan enriched countless lives through her |
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warm and caring ways, and she will forever hold a special place in |
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the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Ruth Walker Polan |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her |
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husband of 66 years, Glenn Polan; to her sons, Glenn Kraege Polan, |
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Jr., and his wife, Deborah, and Ted David Polan and his wife, |
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Robbie; to her grandsons, Thomas Polan and his wife, Amanda, Parker |
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Polan and his wife, Mary, and Walker, William, and Chance Polan; to |
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her sister, Beth Walker; and to her many other relatives and |
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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 the members of her family and that when the Texas House |
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of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruthie |
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Polan. |