H.R. No. 2980

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The passing of Brian H. Eckler of San Antonio on
	April 23, 2013, at the age of 69, has brought a great loss to his
	family, his friends, and the community he served with such
	dedication; and
	WHEREAS, Born September 15, 1943, in Johnstown, New York,
	Brian Eckler was the son of George and Helen Eckler; he graduated
	from Johnstown High School and embarked on a long and distinguished
	career in the United States Air Force; first posted to Norfolk,
	England, he went on to serve in Diyarbakir, Turkey, and at the
	Presidential Aeronautical Station on Andrews Air Force Base in
	Maryland; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Eckler met his future wife, Lora Devlon
	Kartchner, while stationed in the Washington, D.C., area, and after
	their marriage, he was transferred to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo
	to prepare for entry into the USAF Security Service; he served at
	Karamursel Common Defense Installation, Turkey, and then with the
	6970 Electronic Security Group at the National Security Agency in
	Maryland; further training took him to Corry Naval Station in
	Pensacola, Florida, where he developed an enduring fondness for
	pink flamingos; and
	WHEREAS, During a posting with the 6920 ESG at Misawa AFB in
	Japan, Mr. Eckler joined his wife in volunteering to instruct local
	teachers in conversational English and American customs; his
	subsequent adventures included two stints with the Air Force
	Cryptologic Support Center at Kelly AFB and a remote, unaccompanied
	tour to 2146th Com Group, Osan Air Base, in South Korea, which
	enabled him to visit every mountaintop in the country at least once;
	he finally retired at the rank of master sergeant in 1987, long
	after he had reached his eligibility as a disabled veteran; still
	not quite ready to relax, he joined an elite team of security
	experts dispatched to the new embassy in Moscow, Russia, on a
	mission that required improvising outdoor inspection procedures in
	temperatures that plunged to 40 below zero; and
	WHEREAS, Once settled in San Antonio, Mr. Eckler became very
	active in his neighborhood association and volunteered tirelessly
	alongside his wife at the local library and elementary school, as
	well as at a host of community events; he was always ready to lend a
	hand when needed, and he enjoyed caring for feral cats and kittens,
	in addition to his own cat, Ms. Bootsie; he worked some night shifts
	in security, and in his spare time, he was a voracious reader and
	researcher; he liked cooking elaborate meals, discovering new food,
	and driving around in his vintage Volkswagen bus with its
	ever-changing bumper stickers; having grown a snowy beard to
	complement his mustache, he was often mistaken for Santa by
	delighted children, although his wardrobe of colorful T-shirts
	would never have passed muster at the North Pole; and
	WHEREAS, Brian Eckler will be deeply missed, and those who
	were fortunate enough to know him will forever remember their
	favorite explorer, who never stopped learning and lived life to the
	fullest for all of his days; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Brian H. Eckler and
	extend sincere sympathy to his wife of 44 years, Lora Eckler, and to
	his other loved ones; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Brian
	Eckler.
	Menendez
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 2980 was unanimously adopted by a
	rising vote of the House on May 26, 2013.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House