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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of Wilford F. Pickard Jr. of College |
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Station on March 9, 2015, at the age of 81, has brought a great loss |
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to the Texas A&M University community; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio on October 31, 1933, to Wilford |
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Pickard and Katherine Bossy, "Billy" Pickard graduated from Central |
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Catholic High School and subsequently enrolled at A&M; he joined |
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the Aggie football program as a student trainer, and he worked in |
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that capacity under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant until he |
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completed his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1956; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pickard began his professional career as the |
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head athletic trainer at Port Arthur and Brazosport High Schools |
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before returning to College Station in 1965 to take over as head |
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athletic trainer for the football team; over the ensuing five |
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decades, he took on an ever-increasing number of responsibilities |
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within the A&M athletic department, serving as the school's |
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equipment manager, assistant athletic director for training, |
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equipment, and facilities, and associate athletic director for |
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facilities; he was named senior associate athletic director for |
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facilities in 1994, and in this role he helped coordinate the |
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construction of the Bright Football Complex, Nye Academic Center, |
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and the Bernard C. Richardson Zone at Kyle Field; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan officially retired in 2009, but |
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he continued to be a familiar and welcome presence on the A&M |
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campus; affectionately known as the "Keeper of Kyle Field," he |
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would often arrive at 6 a.m. to check on the stadium, and he was a |
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fixture and frequent speaker at Aggie football practices in recent |
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seasons; Mr. Pickard also lent his support to the school's other |
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athletic programs, attending myriad baseball and basketball games; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Highly respected by players and peers alike, |
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Mr. Pickard held a number of important leadership positions within |
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the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association, and the organization |
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honored him for his many contributions with the prestigious Frank |
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Medina Award in 1984; he was inducted into the National Athletic |
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Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 1985, and he was a member of |
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the Texas A&M Lettermen's Association Hall of Honor; moreover, he |
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received well-deserved recognition for his dedicated efforts in |
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behalf of the university when the school declared October 10, 2009, |
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as Billy Pickard Day at Kyle Field; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Pickard enjoyed the |
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love and support of his wife, Linda, and their six children, Kevin, |
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Joe, Janet, John, Jean, and Joy, and he later knew the joy of |
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welcoming two additional generations into his cherished family; and |
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WHEREAS, Billy Pickard made a positive difference in |
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countless lives during his exemplary service to Texas A&M |
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University, and he will forever hold a special place in the hearts |
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of his loved ones and Aggies everywhere; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Billy Pickard and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife |
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of 43 years, Linda Pickard; to his children, Kevin Pickard and his |
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wife, Amy, Joe Pickard and his wife, Jan, Janet Bausch, John Pickard |
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and his wife, Diane, Jean Carter and her husband, Jeff, and Joy |
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Crowl and her husband, Mark; to his grandchildren and his |
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great-granddaughter; to his brother, Robert Pickard, and his wife, |
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Mary; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Billy |
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Pickard. |