TITLE: In memory of Sergeant Bishop Elijah Evans of the Texas Army National Guard.

SUMMARY: In memory of Sergeant Bishop Elijah Evans of the Texas Army National Guard.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Sergeant Bishop Elijah Evans of the Texas Army National Guard died in the line of duty on April 25, 2022, at the age of 22, and his untimely passing was a tragic loss to his family, friends, and colleagues; and WHEREAS, Born to Jwana C. Evans in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 9, 1999, Bishop Evans was raised by his grandmother, Jo Ann Haralson-Johnson, and he grew up with a sister, Tiyana; during his early childhood, he attended school in the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, and he became involved with several youth groups at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church; he also participated in Boy Scouts, and he played soccer; after moving to Arlington to live with his aunt, Felisha Pullen, he transferred to the Mansfield Independent School District and played football; and WHEREAS, He began living with his mother and stepfather, Michael Burnett, in North Pole, Alaska, in 2013, and he attended Eilson High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team and school choir; he also served as drill team commander with the JROTC program, and he was named an expert marksman; his many hobbies included fishing, hunting, and indoor archery; he returned to Mansfield ISD for his last three years of high school, and he served as a member and later as commander of the JROTC Physical Training Team; and WHEREAS, Shortly after graduating from Mansfield High School in 2018, Mr. Evans joined the Texas Army National Guard; in 2019, he contributed to a hurricane response mission, and he went on to serve in Kuwait and Iraq before being deployed to Texas' southern border for Operation Lone Star; in April 2022, he bravely jumped into the Rio Grande to try to save two migrants being swept away by the current; and WHEREAS, Known for his kind and generous nature, Sergeant Bishop Evans rendered exemplary service to his state and community, and the dedication and heroism that he demonstrated will never be forgotten; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Sergeant Bishop Elijah Evans and extend sincere condolences 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 Sergeant Bishop Evans. Patterson Turner Cook Phelan Guerra Murr Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allison Harless Noble Anch a Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Ashby Harrison Orr Bailes Hayes Ortega Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bernal Herrero Perez Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bonnen Holland Price Bowers Howard Ramos Bryant Hull Raney Buckley Hunter Raymond Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Canales Kacal Schofield Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Cole Kitzman Shine Collier Klick Slaton Cook Kuempel Slawson Cortez Lalani Smith Craddick Lambert Smithee Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Darby Leach Stucky Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Dean Longoria Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dutton Lozano Thimesch Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Gates Meyer Turner Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Geren Moody Vasut Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle Gonz lez of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson Gonz lez of El Paso Morrison Wu Goodwin Mu oz, Jr. Zwiener Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1055 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on April 11, 2023. Chief Clerk of the House