| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1038 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Morris Johnson of Huntsville has been named the |
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| 6 | 6 | | Walker County Citizen of the Year for 2008; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, A native of Corsicana, Mr. Johnson attended G. W. |
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| 8 | 8 | | Jackson High School, where he developed an abiding interest in |
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| 9 | 9 | | chemistry, geometry, and physics that was inspired by his teacher, |
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| 10 | 10 | | A. C. Phillips; he graduated, and his desire to continue his |
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| 11 | 11 | | education was supported by a four-year academic scholarship from |
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| 12 | 12 | | the Collin Street Bakery; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson earned his bachelor's degree from |
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| 14 | 14 | | Huston-Tillotson University in 1963, and he went on to receive a |
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| 15 | 15 | | master's degree in chemistry and physics; though not planning to be |
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| 16 | 16 | | a teacher, he discovered his love for the work while instructing |
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| 17 | 17 | | adults and educators at a national science foundation; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, He was soon hired by the Huntsville Independent |
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| 19 | 19 | | School District as a science teacher and basketball coach; former |
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| 20 | 20 | | superintendent Mance Park became his mentor and role model, guiding |
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| 21 | 21 | | Mr. Johnson through his first year, and he later accepted a position |
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| 22 | 22 | | at Huntsville High School as a science teacher; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, An outstanding educator, Mr. Johnson made a positive |
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| 24 | 24 | | difference in the lives of many students by making earth science and |
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| 25 | 25 | | physics classes fun, and his influence led a number of his students |
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| 26 | 26 | | to develop higher education goals and pursue careers in occupations |
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| 27 | 27 | | related to math and science; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson also served the school district as an |
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| 29 | 29 | | administrator; as principal of Samuel W. Houston Elementary School, |
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| 30 | 30 | | he strove to learn every child's name within the first six weeks of |
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| 31 | 31 | | each school year, and his exceptional ability to develop a personal |
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| 32 | 32 | | rapport with his students and his compassion for those who |
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| 33 | 33 | | struggled contributed to his success; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, His administrative accomplishments also include the |
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| 35 | 35 | | establishment of an on-campus bookstore to furnish essential school |
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| 36 | 36 | | supplies to students, regardless of their economic standing; under |
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| 37 | 37 | | his leadership, the school received the state's highest |
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| 38 | 38 | | recognition, the Texas Successful Schools Award; and |
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| 39 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Admired and beloved by his staff and students, Mr. |
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| 40 | 40 | | Johnson was honored for his work in 2001, when the Houston |
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| 41 | 41 | | Elementary School cafeteria was named in his honor; his |
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| 42 | 42 | | professional efforts also earned him the title of Educator of the |
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| 43 | 43 | | Month for HISD in 1993; and |
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| 44 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson retired from teaching in 2002, and since |
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| 45 | 45 | | that time, he has devoted his talent and energy to his community; he |
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| 46 | 46 | | is a member of the boards of the Walker County Housing Authority, |
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| 47 | 47 | | Tri-County Mental Health Mental Retardation Services, the Walker |
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| 48 | 48 | | County Heritage Foundation, and Huntsville's Promise; the boards of |
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| 49 | 49 | | the First Missionary Baptist Church, the Huntsville-Walker County |
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| 50 | 50 | | Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville Memorial Hospital, and First State |
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| 51 | 51 | | Bank also benefit from his service; and |
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| 52 | 52 | | WHEREAS, The vitality of a community depends in large measure |
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| 53 | 53 | | on the active engagement of its citizens, and Morris Johnson stands |
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| 54 | 54 | | at the forefront of those individuals who are making a positive |
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| 55 | 55 | | difference in their communities through their dedication and |
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| 56 | 56 | | leadership; now, therefore, be it |
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| 57 | 57 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 58 | 58 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Morris Johnson on his selection as |
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| 59 | 59 | | the 2008 Citizen of the Year by the Huntsville-Walker County |
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| 60 | 60 | | Chamber of Commerce and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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| 61 | 61 | | continued success and happiness; and, be it further |
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| 62 | 62 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 63 | 63 | | prepared for Mr. Johnson as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 64 | 64 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 65 | 65 | | Kolkhorst |
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| 66 | 66 | | ______________________________ |
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| 67 | 67 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 68 | 68 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1038 was adopted by the House on April |
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| 69 | 69 | | 2, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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| 70 | 70 | | ______________________________ |
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| 71 | 71 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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