Bill Text: TX SR521 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Jerry Donald Cook.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-08 - Reported enrolled [SR521 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR521-Enrolled.html
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In Memory | ||
of | ||
Jerry Donald Cook | ||
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and | ||
commemorates the remarkable life of Jerry Donald Cook, who died | ||
on January 7, 2023, at the age of 83; and | ||
WHEREAS, Don Cook was born in 1939 in Dallas, and from an | ||
early age, he possessed a passion for serving others and a great | ||
appreciation for nature and the outdoors; he achieved the | ||
prestigious rank of Eagle Scout as a youth, and he graduated from | ||
Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth in 1958 before earning a | ||
degree in economics from Texas A&M University; he went on to | ||
later earn master's degrees in public administration from | ||
American University in Washington, D.C., and from Harvard | ||
University's John F. Kennedy School of Government; and | ||
WHEREAS, Inspired as a young man by President Kennedy's | ||
famous call to service in the name of country, Don accepted a | ||
position with the United States Employment Service office and | ||
later worked for NASA and the Peace Corps before serving with the | ||
Environmental Protection Agency; Don joined the District of | ||
Columbia National Guard in 1963, and his calm disposition and | ||
reflective nature were an asset to him during his training as a | ||
fighter pilot; and | ||
WHEREAS, Don was called to serve during the Pueblo crisis | ||
in 1968 and spent a year serving as a fighter pilot in South | ||
Korea, where he flew an F-100 jet; after returning from his | ||
military service abroad, he continued serving in the D.C. | ||
National Guard for nine years, and he later served for nearly a | ||
decade in the Texas State Guard before retiring as a lieutenant | ||
colonel; in the 1970s, Don continued to devote himself to public | ||
service as an intern in the office of United States Democratic | ||
Representative J. J. "Jake" Pickle; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1989, Don retired from the Environmental | ||
Protection Agency and returned to Texas, where he worked for the | ||
General Land Office in Austin and later served as a cancer | ||
educator with The University of Texas MD Anderson Health Science | ||
Center in Smithville; in addition to his professional endeavors, | ||
Don was active in numerous charitable and community | ||
organizations, including the Rotary Club of Austin and Capital | ||
City Village, and he volunteered as a Boy Scout troop leader and | ||
served on a number of environmental and educational committees; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, Don was a devoted husband to Peggy Pickle, his | ||
wife of 33 years, and he was a loving father to his daughters, | ||
Kelly Cook Newman and Rebecca Cook Wallace, and to his | ||
stepdaughter, Bergan Casey; he was blessed with five | ||
grandchildren, who enriched his life immeasurably; and | ||
WHEREAS, Don gave generously of his energy, time, and | ||
talents to help others throughout his life, and he was firm in his | ||
convictions and ideals as a lifelong Democrat and | ||
environmentalist; above all, he cherished his family, and he was | ||
a source of strength and inspiration in the lives of those who | ||
knew him; he leaves a legacy of service and achievement that sets | ||
a shining example for others to follow, and his memory will be | ||
forever treasured by his loving family members and by all who | ||
were privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th | ||
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
family of Jerry Donald Cook; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
memory of Don Cook. | ||
Eckhardt | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on May 8, 2023, by a | ||
rising vote. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |