Bill Text: TX HR88 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Lt. Col. George C. Carruthers of San Marcos on his 100th birthday.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-11-02 - Reported enrolled [HR88 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR88-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 88 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan and World | ||
| War II veteran is indeed cause for celebration, and retired U.S. Air | ||
| Force Lieutenant Colonel George C. Carruthers of San Marcos marked | ||
| that special milestone on October 19, 2023; and | ||
| WHEREAS, George Carruthers was born in Dallas in 1923, and he | ||
| graduated from high school in Tyler and studied at Tyler Junior | ||
| College; after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the | ||
| U.S. Army Air Corps and served with the 8th Air Force, 305th Bomb | ||
| Group, 422nd Bomb Squadron in England as a second lieutenant; and | ||
| WHEREAS, On July 14, 1943, Lieutenant Carruthers and his | ||
| B-17F Flying Fortress Windy City Challenger crew had completed a | ||
| bombing mission when their plane was attacked and crashed near | ||
| Lieusaint, France; seven crew members were killed, and Lieutenant | ||
| Carruthers and his fellow survivors were interrogated and sent to | ||
| the Stalag Luft III camp; in January 1945, Germany ordered its | ||
| evacuation, and prisoners of war were transferred to Stalag VII A; | ||
| the camp was liberated that same year; in 2010, the City of | ||
| Lieusaint dedicated a memorial to the Windy City Challenger crew of | ||
| which Lieutenant Carruthers is the last surviving member; and | ||
| WHEREAS, After the war, Lieutenant Carruthers fulfilled a | ||
| number of assignments, and he flew combat missions in Vietnam; he | ||
| retired in 1972 at the rank of lieutenant colonel, concluding a | ||
| distinguished career of three decades; his many awards include the | ||
| Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the World War II | ||
| Victory Medal, and in 2023, he was selected for the Order of the | ||
| Legion of Honor from France for his World War II service; in all his | ||
| endeavors, he has enjoyed the love and support of his wife, | ||
| Dr. Marilyn Gaddis; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, George Carruthers has | ||
| not only bravely served his nation but has also met the challenges | ||
| and opportunities of a long life with grace and fortitude, and he is | ||
| blessed with the deep respect and lasting affection of a host of | ||
| loved ones; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate U.S. Air Force | ||
| (Ret.) Lieutenant Colonel George C. Carruthers on the joyous | ||
| occasion of his 100th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes | ||
| for continued happiness; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Mr. Carruthers as an expression of high regard by the | ||
| Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Zwiener | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 88 was adopted by the House on | ||
| November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
