Bill Text: TX HR2197 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the dedication of a statue to World War II veteran and former Texas A&M president James Earl Rudder on June 6, 2019, in Brady.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-29 - Reported enrolled [HR2197 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR2197-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2197 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The heroism of former Texas A&M University president | ||
| James Earl Rudder during World War II is being honored with the | ||
| dedication of a statue on the grounds of the McCulloch County | ||
| Courthouse in Brady on June 6, 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Sculpted by Troy Kelley of Salado, this striking | ||
| eight-and-a-half-foot bronze statue depicts Lieutenant Colonel | ||
| Rudder in full combat gear as he led the 2nd Battalion of Army | ||
| Rangers ashore in Normandy on that fateful day in 1944; under | ||
| withering fire from the enemy, Colonel Rudder and his men scaled the | ||
| 100-foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc and destroyed the German batteries | ||
| there; half the men in the battalion were killed or injured, and | ||
| Lieutenant Colonel Rudder himself was wounded twice; and | ||
| WHEREAS, This heroic American went on to command the 109th | ||
| Infantry Regiment at the Battle of the Bulge; promoted to full | ||
| colonel, he was highly decorated, earning the Distinguished Service | ||
| Cross, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with | ||
| oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, and the | ||
| French Legion of Honor with croix de guerre, among others; after the | ||
| war, he continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve, winning | ||
| promotion to brigadier general in 1954 and to major general in 1957; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Rudder was mayor of Brady from 1946 to 1952 and | ||
| Texas land commissioner from 1955 to 1958, playing a leading role in | ||
| the reform of the Veterans Land Program; he became vice president of | ||
| Texas A&M University in 1958 and president of the school the | ||
| following year; from 1965 until his death in 1970, he was president | ||
| of the entire Texas A&M system, and he was instrumental in the | ||
| transformation of the university from a small land grant college to | ||
| a major research institution; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A leader in peace and war, James Earl Rudder lived a | ||
| remarkable life dedicated to the service of his state and his | ||
| nation, and the new statue in Brady is a fitting tribute to the | ||
| legacy of this legendary Texan; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of the statue of | ||
| James Earl Rudder in Brady and extend to all those involved in | ||
| bringing this project to fruition and to all those in attendance | ||
| sincere best wishes for a memorable event. | ||
| Darby | ||
| Sheffield | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2197 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 27, 2019, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
