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TexasAdmiralsexplainedAdmiralDwightAlbert(D.A.)Sharpe

Bytheway,Idonotwantyoumisled.BeingananAdmiralintheTexasNavyisanhonorarystatus,commissionedbytheGovernor,usuallyuponrecommendationbyaStateRepresentativeorSenator.ItspurposeistopropagatehistoricalknowledgeabouttheTexasNavy,whichplayedaroleintheRevolutionofTexansfromMexico,thatresultedintheRepublicofTexasbeingformedasasovereignnation.TheRepublicofTexasexistedfromMarch2,1836toFebruary19,1846,uponfinalvotebytheU.S.Congresstovalidatetheannexationprocesses.(ArunninglocalhumorjokeisthatsomeTexascitizensthoughtitwassupposedtobeTexasannexingtheUnitedStates!)Notallpeoplesohonoredgoanyfurtherthanthecommissioning.However,allwhoarecommissionedarewelcomedtojointheTexasNavyAssociation,which

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doeshaveanorganizedprogramofeducationandsocialization.Therehasbeenamovementtostartsomesub-groupsoftheTNA.ThesearecalledSquadronsoftheTexasNavyAssociation.ThefirstonewastheAdmiralChesterW.NimitzSquadronoftheTexasNavy,whichessentiallycomposedofTNAAdmiralsresidinginNorthTexas.Itwasmyhonortobe

amongtheorganizingAdmiralsforthisfirstSquadron.ThesearethepeoplewhowereprimarilyinvolvedintheUSSFortWorthevents.Therearesixoreightnowexistingandmoreonthehorizon.

IntheveinofpromotingTexasHistory,theTexasNavyAssociationhasaSpeakersBureaufromwhichlocalcivic,genealogicalandhistoricalorganizationsmayrequestaguestspeaker.ItwasmyhonortobeCommissionedbyGov.RickPerry(whoistheonlypersoneverelectedasGovernorofTexasTHREEtimes,andcurrentlyistheU.S.SecretaryofEnergyinthePresident’sCabinet).MyCommissionwaspresentedupontherecognizingeventofmyretirementafter22yearsofadministrativeserviceasExecutiveAdministratortotheSeniorPastorofthe

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HighlandParkPresbyterianChurchinDallas,Texas,inAugustof2004.MyStateSenator,CraigEstes,nominatedme.He’saresidentofWichitaFallsandagraduateofORU.

Mywife,SuzanneMargaretBoggessSharpe,wasCommissionedinMarch2013byGovernorGregAbbott.ShehadcompletedservingasPresidentoftheWise(County)RepublicanWomen,aswellasseveralotherpoliticalelective

positions,suchascountyandstateconventions.Backinmymilitaryagedays,ImadeactiveeffortstojointheNavytobecomeafighterpilot.Ievenpassedtheentrancetestforacademicqualificationfortheflightschool.However,theirdiscoverythatI'dbeentreatedbyaphysicianforasthmaatage15resultedinmy4Fclassificationanddenialofanymilitaryserviceopportunity.So,Ihavealoveandadmirationforthemilitary,butmyonlymilitaryexperienceismyhigh

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schoolROTCtimeoveratWoodrowWilsonHighSchooloverinDallas,classof1957!Ihopethisdoesnotlowermeinyouresteem,butIdidwantyoutoknowthesituation.Bytheway,themembersoftheTNAareAdmirals.Iguessyoucouldcallitapiergrouporisitapeergroup?HaHa.

DwightAlbert(D.A.)Sharpe803DertingRoadEastAurora,TX76078-3712817-504-6508da@dasharpe.comwww.dasharpe.comBiographicalSketchInformation

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HerearetheCommissionsofSuzanneandofme.