TITLE: In memory of Walter "Yukon" Yates of Cedar Park.

SUMMARY: In memory of Walter "Yukon" Yates of Cedar Park.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The passing of Walter "Yukon" Yates of Cedar Park on March 2, 2015, at the age of 90, provides a fitting occasion to reflect on the extraordinary life of a remarkable man; and WHEREAS, Born on October 19, 1924, to Andrew Jesse and Mae Elizabeth Yates, Walter Yates was one of eight children in his family; he grew up in the Ozarks, on what is now known as Yates Mountain in northwest Arkansas, where he learned to hunt and fish as a boy; inspired by author Jack London, he developed a true passion for adventure and exploration at a young age, and he actively pursued a "master's in life" for the rest of his days; and WHEREAS, Mr. Yates joined the United States Marine Corps on November 29, 1941; he completed his training on the island of Samoa in the South Pacific, and had his 18th birthday on the island of Guadalcanal; not long after, he was severely wounded by a mortar shell, and he was discharged as fully disabled in June 1945, although he refused to ever let his disability get in his way; and WHEREAS, After acquiring an interest in real estate, Mr. Yates began his career as a land developer; he considered his proudest professional achievement to be Breakaway Park, a fly-in community in Cedar Park where he lived for a number of years and where many aviation enthusiasts still reside; and WHEREAS, An accomplished pilot himself, Mr. Yates was perhaps best known for his quests in Alaska and the Yukon Territory of Canada; he spent a year exploring ghost towns and abandoned gold mines, achieving access to remote areas with his helicopter; in 1975, he filmed a documentary called Breakaway,which captures his experiences living off the land in a log cabin he built in the Alaskan wilderness; when a malfunction caused his helicopter to crash in an isolated part of British Columbia in 1978, he survived alone for two weeks with a broken back before being rescued; and WHEREAS, Eventually, Mr. Yates set about writing a memoir to chronicle his expeditions in the far north as well as his years in Arkansas and Texas; the book Breakaway was published in 2011, and a second volume, Return to Post River The Last True Frontier,is forthcoming; a man of many talents, he used his spare time to build two helicopters and a two-seater airplane, and he also enjoyed restoring old cars; and WHEREAS, Although Walter Yates is deeply missed, memories of his enthusiasm for life and adventure remain to inspire those he leaves behind, and he will forever hold a special place in the hearts of all those who were fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Walter "Yukon" Yates and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of 37 years, Tracy Yates; to his first wife and the mother of his children, Edith Williams; to his children, Sharolyn Yates, Susan McLaughlin and her husband, Bob, and Jay Yates and his fianc e, Nancy Grob; to his stepson, Greg Malone, and his wife, Lisa; to his brother, Donald Yates, and his wife, Lois; to his sister, Georgeanne Jones; to his 19 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; 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 Walter Yates. Dale Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1773 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 7, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House