H.R. No. 139
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of Dallas lost an admired civic and
spiritual leader with the passing of Dr. Charles Alvin Maurice
Hunter on June 12, 2011, at the age of 85; and
WHEREAS, Born in Longview on May 7, 1926, Charles Hunter
graduated from Bishop College in 1947 and earned a bachelor's
degree in divinity from Howard University; he went on to earn his
master of divinity and doctor of theology degrees from Philadelphia
Divinity School and an additional master's degree from North Texas
State University; after serving as pastor of Trinity Congregational
Churches in Tallahassee, Florida, and Athens, Alabama, he moved to
Dallas and led the Hope, Glendale, and St. Luke Presbyterian
Churches before joining Oak Cliff Presbyterian Church as assistant
pastor; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Hunter became the first African American elected
as presiding officer of the Northeast Texas Presbytery and served
as moderator of Grace Presbytery and the Synod of the Sun of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); in addition, he chaired the
peacemaking committee of Grace Presbytery and created its
multicultural conference, which evolved into one of the
denomination's popular national events; he was a mentor to many
people and touched countless lives in other countries through his
mission activities in places such as Nicaragua and Haiti; and
WHEREAS, A gifted educator, Dr. Hunter taught sociology at
Bishop College and became department director for both sociology
and urban affairs; he also served as an adjunct professor at
Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas at
Arlington, El Centro College, and Richland Community College;
moreover, he taught at the Dallas Police Academy and worked in
research and development for the Dallas Independent School
District; and
WHEREAS, One of the first African Americans to run for the
Dallas school board, Dr. Hunter served as a Dallas County precinct
chair and election judge for more than four decades; he began
working to improve race relations in the city in the early 1960s,
and in 1968 he formed the Amigos, a multicultural social
organization that sponsored picnics, movies, potluck dinners, and
other outings to bring together people of diverse ethnicity; while
serving on the board of the Greater Dallas Housing and Opportunity
Center, he developed and conducted surveys of housing patterns to
identify discrimination in the sale and rental of real estate, and
he became one of the first to integrate Oak Cliff; greatly
benefiting his fellow citizens, he gave generously of his time and
expertise as a member of the boards of the Dallas Peace Center, the
Alzheimer's Association of Greater Dallas, the Trinity River
Authority, and the Greater Dallas Community of Churches; he further
served as director of the Common Ground Credit Union and wrote a
column on racial matters for the Dallas Examiner; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Dr. Hunter enjoyed the
affection and support of his loved ones, including his wife, Annie,
and his daughter Alpha, who preceded him in death, as well as his
children Rhonda, Rhashell, Byron, and Rosalyn; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Hunter made a lasting, positive impact
in Dallas and beyond, and although he will be deeply missed, his
dedication to his faith, his family, and his community will remain a
lasting source of inspiration to all who were privileged to know
this wise and compassionate Texan; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Dr. Charles Alvin Maurice Hunter and extend sincere condolences to
the members of his family: to his children, Rhonda Hunter, the
Reverend Dr. Rhashell Hunter, Byron Hunter, and Rosalyn Hunter; to
his sisters, Delores Simms and Dorothy Griffin; to his brother,
Julian Hunter; to his three grandchildren; 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 Dr. Charles
A. Hunter.
Davis of Dallas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 139 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on June 28, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House