| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 2267 |
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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, The Honorable Bert Williams, attorney and former |
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| 6 | 6 | | mayor of El Paso, is an outstanding community leader who was in the |
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| 7 | 7 | | forefront of efforts to address civil rights injustices and serious |
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| 8 | 8 | | environmental concerns in that city; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Unable to buy dinner for an African American teenage |
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| 10 | 10 | | boy who was refused service at a local restaurant in 1962, Mr. |
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| 11 | 11 | | Williams began working to eliminate such discrimination in his role |
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| 12 | 12 | | as a city alderman; within months, he was instrumental in |
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| 13 | 13 | | passing--over a mayor's veto--a city ordinance on civil rights that |
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| 14 | 14 | | banned discrimination in motels, hotels, theaters, and |
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| 15 | 15 | | restaurants; his youthful friend that fateful evening was none |
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| 16 | 16 | | other than Nolan Richardson, who went on to become a renowned |
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| 17 | 17 | | college basketball coach; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Serving as mayor from 1971 to 1973, he continued his |
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| 19 | 19 | | efforts to benefit El Paso and was one of the city's first elected |
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| 20 | 20 | | leaders to challenge ASARCO after high levels of lead were |
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| 21 | 21 | | discovered in children near the copper smelting facility; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Bert Williams has made a positive and lasting |
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| 23 | 23 | | difference in the lives of his fellow citizens, and through his |
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| 24 | 24 | | principled actions, he has set a notable example of civic |
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| 25 | 25 | | engagement for all Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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| 26 | 26 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 27 | 27 | | Legislature hereby honor former El Paso mayor Bert Williams for his |
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| 28 | 28 | | admirable achievements as a community leader and civil rights |
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| 29 | 29 | | activist and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, |
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| 30 | 30 | | be it further |
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| 31 | 31 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 32 | 32 | | prepared for Mr. Williams as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 33 | 33 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 34 | 34 | | Marquez |
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| 35 | 35 | | ______________________________ |
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| 36 | 36 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 37 | 37 | | I certify that H.R. No. 2267 was adopted by the House on May |
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| 38 | 38 | | 25, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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| 39 | 39 | | ______________________________ |
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| 40 | 40 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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