H.R. No. 1935
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Representatives of the William Leonard Davis
District of the Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, are
dedicating a building at El Rancho Cima Boy Scout Camp near Fischer
on May 30, 2009, in honor of the district's namesake; and
WHEREAS, W. L. Davis, an educator and civic leader, was born
in Halletsville on January 6, 1873; he attended grade school and
high school in La Grange, earned a bachelor's degree from Prairie
View Normal Institute in 1894, and received a master's degree from
the University of Kansas in 1940; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Davis served as an elementary school principal
in Schulenburg from 1900 to 1902 and as principal of Hempstead High
School from 1903 to 1914; after moving to Houston, he taught at
Emancipation Blackshear Elementary School and later, from 1920 to
1926, at Gregory Elementary School; he concluded his career in
education as the principal of Gregory Elementary from 1943 to 1944;
and
WHEREAS, Deeply engaged in the community, Mr. Davis gave
generously of his time and talents to Antioch Baptist Church in
Houston and served as president of the Civic Betterment League of
Houston and Harris County and as a member of the Texas Interracial
Commission; and
WHEREAS, At a time when African American youth had little
access to scouting programs, Mr. Davis worked to achieve equality
of opportunity within the Boy Scouts; in 1944, as a result of his
efforts, the council created a district to serve African American
boys and young men; the new jurisdiction was named after Mr. Davis,
in tribute to his tireless determination to extend the reach of the
organization; and
WHEREAS, The same year that the Davis District was
established, Mr. Davis donated a building to enhance the facilities
at El Rancho Cima Boy Scout Camp; it is that building, given in
memory of his wife, Roselle E. Davis, that is now being dedicated;
and
WHEREAS, W. L. Davis played a crucial role in enabling
African American youth in the Houston area to enjoy the many
benefits of the Boy Scout movement, and it is indeed fitting that
his staunch devotion to scouting and to the welfare of his community
be memorialized; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of the William
Leonard Davis Building at El Rancho Cima Boy Scout Camp and extend
to all those associated with the W. L. Davis District sincere best
wishes for continued success in all their endeavors; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the W. L. Davis District as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Dutton
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1935 was adopted by the House on May
19, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House