TITLE: In memory of Paul Gene Roden of Paris.

SUMMARY: In memory of Paul Gene Roden of Paris.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The certain knowledge of a life well lived may temper the profound sadness felt at the loss of Paul Gene Roden, who passed away on June 24, 2013, at the age of 75; and WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Paris, Texas, Mr. Roden was born on April 21, 1938, to Paul Gene Roden, Sr., and Cecile Loraine Denton Roden; he attended Paris Junior College and earned his bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University before graduating from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1961; and WHEREAS, Mr. Roden established a notable career as a funeral director, continuing a family tradition that had begun two generations before, and he also distinguished himself in his work as an insurance executive; highly respected by his peers, he was a member of the Texas Association of Insurance Officials, the Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers, and the East Texas, Texas, and National Funeral Directors Associations; and WHEREAS, This dedicated community leader served on the City of Paris Traffic and Thoroughfares Commission and the Master Planning and Redistricting Committees; he further benefited his fellow citizens as a director on the executive board of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments, as chair of Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas, and as chair of the Paris Junior College Board of Regents; his contributions to the college were recognized with his induction into its Hall of Honor in 2012; and WHEREAS, Active in a number of civic organizations as well, Mr. Roden shared his time with the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, the Rotary Club, the Red River Valley Council of the Girl Scouts of America, and CASA for Kids; in addition, he was a valued member of the congregation at Lamar Avenue Church of Christ; and WHEREAS, Mr. Roden married the former Anita Jean Franklin in 1978, and the couple shared a rewarding marriage that spanned more than 34 years; he was a caring father to his four children, Kathy, Paul, Ward, and Kevin, and the beloved "Papi" of six grandchildren; and WHEREAS, Those fortunate enough to have known Paul Roden will remember the way he touched their lives with his kind, joyful spirit, and he will forever hold a treasured place in their hearts; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Paul Gene Roden and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Anita Roden; to his children, Kathy Floyd and her husband, Randy, Paul Kirk Roden and his wife, Kate, Ward Hall and his wife, Laurel, and Kevin Hall and his fiancee, Tracy Scott; to his grandchildren, Ross and Kellen Floyd and Arden, Brink, Ethan, and Jake Hall; to his adoptive grandson, Christopher Hudson; to his sister, Mary Suzanne Roden; to his brother, Marcus Lee Roden, and his wife, Sharon; to his brother-in-law, Clifford Franklin, and his wife, Betsy; to his aunt, Jessie Denton; to Katherine Hughes; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of Paul Gene Roden. Lavender Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 9 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on July 18, 2013. Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 9 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the Senate on July 25, 2013. Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: Date Governor