82R31437 BPG-D
By: Reynolds H.R. No. 2625
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Gary Bledsoe of Austin has served as president of
the Texas NAACP for two decades, during which time he has changed
many lives for the better through his outstanding leadership; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of The University of Texas and the UT
School of Law, Mr. Bledsoe works tirelessly in behalf of civil
rights; he has served as a member of the national board of the NAACP
since 2003 and is currently chair of the organization's National
Criminal Justice Committee; Mr. Bledsoe's efforts to fight racial
discrimination have helped to bring down employment barriers for
minorities and women, furthered the cause of equal treatment of
minority youth under the law, and secured funding of a scholarship
program for college-bound minority youth; Mr. Bledsoe also helped
to negotiate with HEB for the establishment of scholarships for
students attending Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M
University, and Huston-Tillotson University; and
WHEREAS, This accomplished leader is a former assistant
attorney general for the State of Texas who is now in private
practice, focusing on public interest, civil rights, and employment
law; he has received lawyer-of-the-year awards from the Texas
Attorney General, the Travis County Bar Association, the NAACP, the
Austin Area Urban League, and other organizations; moreover, he has
been accorded the Kelly Alexander State President of the Year
Award, the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Award for Legal Advocacy, and
the Benjamin Hooks Keeper of the Flame Award, among other
accolades; in March 2011, he was reappointed as a regent of Texas
Southern University; and
WHEREAS, Gary Bledsoe has guided the Texas NAACP with
exceptional skill and dedication, furthering its mission to
eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure equality of rights
for all; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Gary Bledsoe for his 20 years of service as
president of the Texas NAACP and extend to him sincere best wishes
for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Bledsoe as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.