| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1207 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Throughout his noteworthy career in film, |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | television, and the theater, Louis Gossett, Jr., has distinguished |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | himself as an award-winning actor and a champion for racial |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | equality; and |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born on May 27, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, Louis |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Gossett landed his first leading role as a 16-year-old in the |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | Broadway production of Take a Giant Step in 1953; he went on to |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | appear in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun in 1961, |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | as well as in numerous television series during the 1960s and 1970s; |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | in 1977, Mr. Gossett earned an Emmy for his portrayal of "Fiddler" |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | in the ABC miniseries Roots, and he won the Academy Award for Best |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | Actor in a Supporting Role in 1982 for his performance in An Officer |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | and a Gentleman; Mr. Gossett continued to seek diverse and |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | challenging roles, and he was featured in such projects as the |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | action adventure series Iron Eagle from 1985 through 1995 and in |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Diggstown and Toy Soldiers in 1991; moreover, Mr. Gossett has |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | received additional industry accolades, including Golden Globes |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | and People's Choice awards, and he landed a role on the popular |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | science fiction television series Stargate SG-1; and |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Committed to socially themed pictures, Mr. Gossett |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | appeared in To Dance with Olivia in 1997 and Jasper, Texas in 2003, |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | and he also developed the Eracism Foundation, a nonprofit |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | organization that calls attention to issues of racism and |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | intolerance through entertainment; and |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Gossett's latest film, The Least Among You, is |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | being featured at the 2009 AFI Dallas International Film Festival; |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | inspired by a true story, the movie examines racial tension in the |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | aftermath of the 1965 Watts riots, and it received the Best Texas |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | Film and Audience Choice awards at the 2009 Texas Black Film |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | Festival, where Mr. Gossett was also chosen as Best Actor; and |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | WHEREAS, As a performer, Louis Gossett, Jr., has garnered |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | acclaim from critics and audiences alike, and by reaching beyond |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | his profession to advocate for social awareness and compassion, he |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | is an inspiration to many; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | Legislature hereby commend Louis Gossett, Jr., for his impressive |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | body of work and for his dedication to pursuing and maintaining the |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | highest standards in the performing arts and extend to him |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | gratitude for his support of the State of Texas; and, be it further |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | prepared for Mr. Gossett as an expression of high regard by the |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | Mallory Caraway |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | Speaker of the House |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1207 was adopted by the House on April |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | 16, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
|---|