Bill Text: TX HR269 | 2017 | 85th Legislature 1st Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim of Pittsburg, Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-08-16 - Reported enrolled [HR269 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR269-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 269 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a celebrated entrepreneur | ||
| with the passing of Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim of Pittsburg on July 21, | ||
| 2017, at the age of 89; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Pine on May 8, 1928, Bo Pilgrim was the son | ||
| of Alonzo Monroe Pilgrim and Gertrude Gunn Pilgrim; his father died | ||
| when he was a boy, and he went to live with his paternal | ||
| grandmother; after working as a farmhand and performing other | ||
| manual labor, he accepted an offer to partner with an older brother, | ||
| Aubrey, in ownership of a feed store; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Pilgrim served his country in the United States | ||
| Army, and while stationed in California, he was impressed by its | ||
| enormous feed operations; on his return to Texas, he guided | ||
| investment in larger facilities, and the Pilgrim family company | ||
| expanded into chicken products and became a major egg producer; he | ||
| took charge of Pilgrim's Pride following the death of his brother in | ||
| 1966, and while continuing to expand the business, he directed | ||
| innovative efforts to make its products leaner and healthier; a | ||
| savvy marketer, he gained national recognition by appearing in | ||
| commercials, sporting a pilgrim's buckled hat; the company became | ||
| one of the area's largest employers and one of the world's foremost | ||
| poultry producers; he retired in 2010, having spent more than four | ||
| decades building a company that today employs 35,000; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Highly engaged in the civic sphere, Mr. Pilgrim | ||
| worked at the state level to promote a positive business | ||
| environment, and his dedication to East Texas was reflected in his | ||
| founding of Pilgrim Bank, which he continued to serve as chair | ||
| emeritus until his death; a man of deep faith, he was a congregant | ||
| at First Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday school for many | ||
| years, and he spread the gospel widely by handing out religious | ||
| tracts; moreover, he established Marketplace Ministries, a | ||
| workplace outreach, created Witness Park as a place of prayer and | ||
| fellowship in the center of Pittsburg, and supported the completion | ||
| of Pilgrim Plaza, a one-acre site for contemplation and community | ||
| gatherings; his bountiful philanthropic giving made a positive | ||
| difference in countless lives; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Pilgrim shared a fulfilling marriage of 61 years | ||
| with his wife, Patty R. Pilgrim; he was the devoted father of three | ||
| children, Ken, Pat, and Greta, and his family also included his | ||
| grandchildren, Clayton, Jake, and Lonnie Pilgrim, Greta Gail | ||
| Simpson, Chesley Hindman, and Shelby Owens, and his | ||
| great-grandchildren, Kate, Emily, and Gracie Hindman; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Although his vision, work ethic, and business | ||
| expertise brought him tremendous professional success, Bo Pilgrim | ||
| placed the highest value on family, faith, and community, and those | ||
| who were privileged to know him will continue to find inspiration in | ||
| his example of generosity and humble appreciation for his | ||
| blessings; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of | ||
| Bo Pilgrim and extend sincere condolences to his 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 Lonnie "Bo" | ||
| Pilgrim. | ||
| Hefner | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 269 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on August 15, 2017. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
