H.R. No. 988
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The citizens of Brazoria County lost a true friend
and dedicated public servant with the passing of Robert Raye Dixon
of West Columbia on September 28, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Robert Dixon grew up in West Columbia and graduated
in 1965 from Charlie Brown High School; he went on to earn a
bachelor's degree cum laude from Prairie View A&M University and to
obtain his funeral director license from the Commonwealth Institute
of Funeral Service; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, after working for more than a decade as an
insurance agent and mortician, Mr. Dixon fulfilled his dream of
opening his own funeral home; Dixon Funeral Home today has
locations in both Brazoria and Angleton and continues to follow the
principles of compassionate service that Mr. Dixon established; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dixon truly believed in giving back to his
community, as exemplified by his long and illustrious life in
public office; he was a member of the West Columbia City Council for
14 years, beginning in 1976, before being elected as the city's
first African American mayor; during his tenure, he helped bring
several nationally known retailers to the city and saw the
completion of a library, civic center, and city hall; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman later demonstrated his
commitment to his fellow residents as president of Brazoria County
Cities Association, as a consultant for Mims Community Center, and
as a trustee and steward of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal
Church; moreover, he was active in the Brazoria Masonic Lodge No.
104 and the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 388; and
WHEREAS, Along the way, Mr. Dixon was appointed by Governor
Ann Richards to the Texas Funeral Service Commission, which he
subsequently served as chair of the board, and he helped found the
Coastal Funeral Directors and Morticians Association; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dixon was nominated as Drum Major for the
Brazoria County Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration Committee, and
he was a recipient of a Citizen of the Year Award from the Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity; and
WHEREAS, Revered by his community and his family, Robert
Dixon never met a stranger and served as a role model and mentor to
countless people; he will be deeply missed and forever remembered
by all those fortunate enough to have shared in his love and
friendship; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Robert Raye Dixon and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of
41 years, Audrey Dixon; to his daughters, Tina Dixon and Aretha
Abioye and her husband, Awofe; to his mother-in-law, Maxine Davis;
to his brothers-in-law, Charles Johnson and his wife, Carolyn, and
Don Bates; to his sisters-in-law, Mary Louise Dickson, Thelma
Earls, and Abbie Faye McDowell; to his aunts, Carrie, Dorothy, and
Luberta Thomas; to his godsister, Debra Williams; to his godson,
Larry A. Thomas; to his goddaughters, Addie Williams and Tashea
Shorter; to his grandchildren and great-grandchild; and to his
other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family, and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Robert Raye
Dixon.
Bonnen
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 988 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 7, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House