H.R. No. 1831
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The untimely death of esteemed school administrator
Gloria Jean Gorham on April 19, 2009, at the age of 59, has deeply
saddened residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and beyond; and
WHEREAS, The youngest daughter born to Willis and Lillie
Walker, the former Gloria Jean Walker knew as a child growing up in
Austin that she wanted to be a teacher; she attended The University
of Texas at Austin, where she earned a bachelor's degree in
education and anthropology and a master's degree in education, and
subsequently began her career with the Houston Independent School
District in 1975; through the years, she taught at Hohl, Golfcrest,
and West University Elementary Schools and served briefly as an
assistant principal at Walnut Bend Elementary; in 1989, she became
the principal of Crawford Elementary School in the Fifth Ward; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Gorham soon earned the respect and admiration of
the Crawford community with her ever-present smile and dedication
to helping students succeed; exemplifying the school's motto, "Only
love is spoken here," she regularly hugged students, faculty, and
staff alike, and her optimism and guidance were instrumental in
Crawford achieving "Recognized" status by the Texas Education
Agency from 2006 through 2008; most recently, she was especially
proud of a dual-language program that the school had initiated to
allow students to learn in English and Spanish; and
WHEREAS, Although Gloria Gorham's passing has left a void in
the lives of her many friends and loved ones, memories of her joyful
nature, leadership, and commitment to education will continue to
inspire others for years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Gloria Jean Gorham and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her
daughter, Lisa R. McBride; to her mother, Lillie Walker King; to her
fianc, Charles Bryant; to her sisters, Grace Howard and her
husband, James, Joyce Addison and her husband, Tobe, and Shirley
Walker; to her brother, Willie Lee Jones, and his wife, Annie; to
her uncles, Fred Jones and his wife, Betty, and Theodore Jones and
his wife, Lillie; and to her other relatives and friends; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas House
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Gloria
Jean Gorham.
Dutton
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1831 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 14, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House