Bill Text: TX HR2308 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Steve Dekker of Houston.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-06-01 - Reported enrolled [HR2308 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR2308-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 2308 |
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WHEREAS, A caring and purposeful life came to an untimely end | ||
with the passing of Steven Matthew Dekker of Houston on January 9, | ||
2016, at the age of 51; and | ||
WHEREAS, The son of John and Genevieve Pahls Dekker, Steve | ||
Dekker was born on November 3, 1964, in Wichita, Kansas; he was | ||
awarded a scholarship to attend both Wichita State University and | ||
the University of Nevada--Las Vegas, where he lettered in tennis | ||
and graduated with degrees in business administration and hotel and | ||
restaurant management; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Dekker went on to work as a professional tennis | ||
coach, and after moving to Houston in 1994, he taught at the River | ||
Oaks Country Club, coaching Zina Garrison, George Bush, and other | ||
well-known clients; along the way, he became one of the early | ||
promoters of paddle tennis in the United States, and he traveled the | ||
world playing the sport competitively with the U.S. Padel Team; and | ||
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan was later hired as director of | ||
racquet sports at the Houstonian Health Club and Spa, and in that | ||
role he was able to initiate a number of charitable ventures, | ||
including a diabetes fund-raiser and a mentoring program for foster | ||
children; he also supported the classical music program at Rice | ||
University as both a donor and fund-raiser and enjoyed attending | ||
performances of the institution's opera students and its symphony | ||
orchestra at venues all over the country; and | ||
WHEREAS, After he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of | ||
brain cancer in August 2013, Steve Dekker's courage, dignity, and | ||
commitment to helping others did not waver, and throughout his | ||
two-and-a-half-year battle, he devoted himself to advancing the | ||
fight against cancer; he was given a seat on the MD Anderson Cancer | ||
Center's Patient and Family Advisory Council, and he additionally | ||
served as a strong and compassionate voice for patients on the | ||
hospital's volunteer services and patient experience steering | ||
committees; and | ||
WHEREAS, Blessed with a loving family, Mr. Dekker enjoyed a | ||
17-year relationship with Gregory Montelaro, with whom he exchanged | ||
wedding vows in June 2015; he happily welcomed Mr. Montelaro's | ||
children, Brett and Lauren, into his life as his own, and he was | ||
further cherished by a wide circle of siblings, nieces, nephews, | ||
and extended family, as well as a multitude of dear friends; his | ||
youthful exuberance and contagious smile made an impression on | ||
everyone he encountered, and his passion for sports and the | ||
outdoors led him to some of his favorite pastimes, which included | ||
running marathons, waterskiing, and snowboarding; and | ||
WHEREAS, Though his journey ended far too soon, Steve Dekker | ||
built a life that was extraordinarily rich in professional | ||
achievements, in love and friendship, and in meaningful service to | ||
others, and he will forever be remembered with tremendous affection | ||
by those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Steven Matthew | ||
Dekker and extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn his passing; | ||
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 Steve | ||
Dekker. | ||
Farrar | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 2308 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on May 25, 2017. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||