SR603 - In memory of J. Carl Norris Jr. of Mineola.

        SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 603       In Memory   of   J. Carl Norris Jr.            WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with   the passing of Dr. J. Carl Norris Jr. of Mineola on   January 6, 2024, at the age of 100; and            WHEREAS, The son of Gertrude Norris and Julius Norris   Sr., J. C. Norris was born in Arkansas on July 18, 1923; he was   salutatorian of his high school class in Atlanta, Texas, and he   attended the College of Marshall, which eventually became East   Texas Baptist University; while serving in the U.S. Army Air   Corps during World War II, he was badly injured in a plane crash;   he endured a long recovery and went on to graduate as   valedictorian of Southern College of Optometry in 1945; after   establishing his practice in Mineola, he treated patients for 45   years and helped build what is now Mineola Eyecare; and            WHEREAS, Dr. Norris further benefited his community in   many leadership positions, including school board trustee and   member of the boards of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce and First   National Bank; in addition, he was a member of the ETBU Board of   Trustees and Advisory Board; he also served on the Mineola City   Council, and he was later elected mayor as one of the youngest   individuals to do so in the city's history; following his   retirement, he contributed his time and talents to the board of   the Meredith Foundation for more than two decades and led the   organization as chair; he was an active congregant of First   Baptist Church of Mineola and held a variety of roles, from   Sunday school teacher and chair of the deacons to member of the   long-range planning and building steering committees; among his   many accolades, he received the 1981 Mineola Rotary Man of the   Year Award and the chamber of commerce's Distinguished Citizen   Award for a lifetime of service; and            WHEREAS, Dr. Norris shared a fulfilling 78-year marriage   with his wife, Charm, until her passing in 2020; the couple   enjoyed traveling together and visited six continents; a devoted   family man, he took great pride in their daughters, Suzanne and   Patricia, their grandchildren, Melissa, Jennifer, Blair, and   Brooke, and their great-grandchildren, Zachary, Andrew, Titus,   and Hugo; he brightened the days of those around him with his   kindness and keen sense of humor; an avid reader, he kept up with   current events in newspapers; and            WHEREAS, J. C. Norris inspired innumerable people through   his dedication to his family, his faith, and his community, and   he is remembered with admiration and affection by all who were   fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it            RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th   Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. J. Carl Norris   Jr. and extend sincere 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 Senate adjourns   this day, it do so in memory of Dr. J. C. Norris.     Hughes                 ________________________________          President of the Senate               I hereby certify that the     above Resolution was adopted by     the Senate on May 31, 2025, by a     rising vote.                 ________________________________          Secretary of the Senate                 ________________________________           Member, Texas Senate