81R6215 BPG-D
By: McClendon H.R. No. 378
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Single mothers have played an important role in
Texas throughout the history of the Lone Star State and continue to
be a dynamic force in society; and
WHEREAS, In 1807, when Elizabeth Paxton Houston was left a
widow with nine children, she moved her brood west from Virginia to
a new home in Tennessee; the fifth son of this stalwart pioneer
woman, Sam Houston, became a Texas hero as a victor in battle, the
first president of the republic, and governor of the state; and
WHEREAS, Many prominent Texans have been raised by single
mothers; the multifaceted country music star and businessman Jimmy
Dean dedicated his autobiography and the hit song "I.O.U." to his
mother, Ruth Taylor Dean, whom he called "the toughest lady I've
ever known"; she supported her family as a barber and taught her
musical son to play piano; a more contemporary hit-maker, Norah
Jones, was raised by her mother, Susan, in the Dallas area; and
WHEREAS, News anchor Sam Donaldson, born after the death of
his father, was blessed with a strong, caring mother who taught him
to read and encouraged his interest in current events and higher
education; Chloe Donaldson ran the family's cotton and dairy farm
and drove her son 25 miles each way to and from school every day; and
WHEREAS, One of seven children, boxing great George Foreman
was raised by a single mother who worked two jobs, earning as little
as $26 a week; other successful Lone Star athletes brought up by
single mothers include Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and
Olympic medalist Sheryl Swoopes; Ms. Swoopes, who became a star of
the WNBA as a new single mother herself, shared her uplifting story
in the book Bounce Back; moreover, she created a foundation to
educate and empower young people; and
WHEREAS, The irrepressible Mary Kay Ash became a role model
for all women as the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics; married at 17,
she raised three children on her own after her marriage ended; she
quit her job as a national training director when her employer
promoted her assistant over her at a higher salary, and in 1963, she
sank $5,000 in savings into a venture that would become a
billion-dollar powerhouse; through her company, she helped
countless other women to follow their dreams; and
WHEREAS, For decades, researchers followed the conventional
wisdom that children from single-parent families are prone to
experience difficulties in later life; more recent studies,
however, have shown that the risk of a negative outcome correlates
more strongly with a lack of adequate socioeconomic resources than
with the absence of one parent; moreover, whether children are
raised by one or two parents, crucial factors include a harmonious
home environment and the quality of the relationship between parent
and child; and
WHEREAS, Mothers without partners juggle multiple roles and
responsibilities on a daily basis, but they meet their unique
challenges with selfless grace, wisdom, and love, demonstrating
strength that is an enduring legacy for their children and an
inspiration to all; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor the single mothers of Texas and commend
them for their outstanding contributions.