Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HJR0492 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
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4	4	HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 492
5	5	By Sparks
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8	8	HJR0492
9	9	006028
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13	13	A RESOLUTION to recognize and commend Mary Patterson
14	14	Watkins.
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16	16	WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should salute those
17	17	citizens who, through their extraordinary efforts, have distinguished themselves as community
18	18	leaders of whom we can all be proud; and
19	19	WHEREAS, one such noteworthy person is Mary Patterson Watkins, who has
20	20	distinguished herself as a citizen of the greatest dedication, ability, and integrity; and
21	21	WHEREAS, born in Rutherford County, Ms. Watkins is the daughter of Walter Patterson
22	22	and Sam Ella Patterson; she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Art and Sociology from
23	23	Middle Tennessee State University, in addition to gaining two endorsements in special
24	24	education from the University of Tennessee at Nashville and the University of Tennessee at
25	25	Martin; and
26	26	WHEREAS, dedicating herself to the service of education both in the classroom and in
27	27	the board room, Ms. Watkins was named the Teacher of the Year for both Riverdale High
28	28	School and Rutherford County Schools and was employed by the Tennessee Department of
29	29	Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for twenty-three years; she retired as a teacher with
30	30	sixteen years of service; and
31	31	WHEREAS, Ms. Watkins's outstanding performance in the classroom was also
32	32	recognized by "Who's Who Among High School Teachers," and she received the Trailblazer in
33	33	Education Award from Middle Tennessee State University and the Daily News Journal; and
34	34	WHEREAS, eager for the continued success of her students, Ms. Watkins was
35	35	instrumental in the creation of the Rutherford County Transition Academy at Middle Tennessee
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40	40	State University, and she developed Profiles for Athletes to assist students in leveraging their
41	41	athletic abilities to secure college scholarships; and
42	42	WHEREAS, no stranger to accolades, she has earned myriad recognitions and awards
43	43	for her many and varied accomplishments: Resolution for Extraordinary Service and Leadership
44	44	in Rutherford County from the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners in 2025, the African
45	45	American Heritage Society Founders Award in 2024, the Tennessee Historical Commission
46	46	Certificate of Merit in 2024, the Murfreesboro Muslim Youth Person of the Year Award in 2023,
47	47	the Leading Ladies Project Historian for the Party of Twelve Play in 2022, the Rutherford County
48	48	Heritage Society Community Service Award in 2021, the Unity Luncheon Unsung Hero Award in
49	49	African American Arts at Middle Tennessee State University in 2018, a profile in the creative
50	50	journal Collage titled "From MTSU Student to Community Icon" in 2020, the NAACP Woman of
51	51	the Year Award in 2015, and the Recognition Award from the Department of Education, Division
52	52	of College and Career Readiness in 2011; and
53	53	WHEREAS, Ms. Watkins, keenly understanding the power of history, helped found the
54	54	African American Heritage Society of Rutherford County, which seeks to discover, preserve,
55	55	and teach the African-American story in Rutherford County, and its efforts have resulted in the
56	56	installation of three Tennessee Historical Markers, the erection of four monuments, the
57	57	mounting of a plaque, and the consideration of six other possible historical marker sites; and
58	58	WHEREAS, she has also been a genealogy instructor at the Patterson Community
59	59	Center for "African American Voices: Past and Present of Rutherford County" since 2012, and
60	60	she utilizes her superlative skills as a public speaker on various topics for her local community;
61	61	and
62	62	WHEREAS, multivalent in her talent, she is a skilled artist, an expertise that she shares
63	63	with her neighbors through helping at youth art camps and senior art activities; acting as a
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68	68	sketch artist for the Murfreesboro Discovery Center on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day; presenting
69	69	art exhibits at schools and other community events; and donating art for local fundraisers; and
70	70	WHEREAS, her creative facility also extends to the written word; she is both a playwright
71	71	and a director of plays and skits, which have been performed at such locations as the Patterson
72	72	Center, Riverdale High School, Stones River National Battlefield, and Bethel Missionary Baptist
73	73	Church; and
74	74	WHEREAS, her renowned historical sensibility and care are well employed on the
75	75	advisory board for the Oakland Mansion and as a commissioner for the Rutherford County
76	76	Courthouse Museum; and
77	77	WHEREAS, additionally, Ms. Watkins served as the guest speaker at Representative
78	78	Mike Sparks' Rutherford County History discussion at the Sam Davis Home; and
79	79	WHEREAS, thoughtful of both this world and the next, Ms. Watkins is a lifelong member
80	80	of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Walter Hill; and
81	81	WHEREAS, Mary Watkins epitomizes the spirit and commitment that are characteristic
82	82	of a true Tennessean, and she should be specially recognized for her many accomplishments
83	83	and devoted work; now, therefore,
84	84	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
85	85	FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
86	86	CONCURRING, that we honor and commend Mary Patterson Watkins for her selfless service to
87	87	her fellow citizens and extend to her our best wishes for continued success and happiness in all
88	88	her future endeavors.
89	89	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
90	90	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
91	91	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
92	92	without House or Senate designation.
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