82S11109 BPG-D
By: Davis of Dallas H.R. No. 177
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the
death of groundbreaking civil rights activist and former Dallas
City Council member Albert Louis Lipscomb, who died on June 18,
2011, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, The son of Lucille Katy Jeffrey and T. B. Lipscomb,
Al Lipscomb was born in East Dallas on June 15, 1925; he graduated
from Lincoln High School and served in the United States Army Air
Forces during World War II; in 1950, he returned to his hometown and
worked as headwaiter at a number of the city's finest restaurants;
while employed at the Baker Hotel, he met his future wife, the
former Lovie Marie Love, and their fulfilling marriage was made
even richer through the years with the addition of eight children;
and
WHEREAS, In the mid-1960s, Mr. Lipscomb took a leading role
in what proved a long battle to help African American homeowners
threatened with displacement from Fair Park; he worked as an
organizer for the Dallas Community Action Agency and for the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference, whose Dallas chapter he
cofounded; undaunted by threats, he strengthened the determination
of others participating in the bold SCLC campaign to end
discrimination by a grocery chain; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Lipscomb became the first African American to
run for mayor of Dallas in 1971, and although it cost him his job as
supervisor of field operations for the Council of Churches Block
Partnership program, he received enough votes to force a runoff
between the two leading candidates; moreover, his support tipped
the balance against the establishment candidate and altered the
political landscape in Dallas; he was the lead plaintiff in the
landmark constitutional lawsuit that overturned the city's
at-large election system and forced the creation of single-member
districts; in addition, he founded the South Dallas Information
Center to help residents with issues of discrimination and poverty,
and for years, he appeared in the council chamber and at other
public meetings as a vigorous citizen voice for change; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, Mr. Lipscomb won election to the city
council, and he was elected mayor pro tem in 1991; term limits
required him to leave office in 1993, and he founded a chemical
supply company, Lipscomb Industries, before regaining his seat two
years later; over the course of his seven terms in office, he held
regular town hall meetings, cosponsored an innovative
community-based crime prevention program that continues to benefit
citizens today, and devoted himself to improving the quality of
life in his Oak Cliff district and Greater Dallas; remaining a
forceful defender of civil rights, he successfully advocated for
the hiring of the first minority city manager in Dallas; he resigned
in 2000, and in 2003 he was appointed to the Citizens Police Review
Board; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan was a lifelong member of
St. Mark's Baptist Church; an ordained deacon, he served as
president of the Pastor's Aid Committee and sang in the Male Chorus,
and Rialto Community Bible College awarded him an honorary
doctorate in religion; tireless in his commitment to the community,
Mr. Lipscomb served in leadership roles with numerous
organizations, among them Dallas Legal Services, the Martin Luther
King, Jr., Community Center, Progressive Voters League, and the
City of Dallas Charter Review Committee; the Texas Peace Officers
Association selected him as Man of the Year in 1980 and he was named
one of "50 People Who Made Dallas" by D Magazine; his myriad
accolades also included the Outstanding Texan Achievement Award
from the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and the Civil Rights Award
from the John F. Kennedy/Lyndon Baines Johnson Civil Rights Center;
and
WHEREAS, Al Lipscomb stood strong against civil injustice,
and his courage and resolution inspired others to take up the cause;
opening doors for minority leaders in municipal government, he
served as a mentor to many who entered public service; although he
will be deeply missed by his loved ones and host of admirers, his
vital contributions to his community and to social progress in
Dallas will never be forgotten; 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
Albert Louis Lipscomb and extend sincere condolences to the members
of his family: to his wife, Lovie Marie Lipscomb; to his children,
Jacquelyn McDonald and her husband, Jerry, Eyelette Lipscomb,
Donette Zeno and her husband, Donald, Alva Smith, LaVette Dudley
and her husband, Roderick, Noel Lipscomb, Jeffrey Lipscomb, and
Jesse Lipscomb and his wife, Debra; to his 14 grandchildren; to his
15 great-grandchildren; to his 2 great-great-grandchildren; to his
brother, Thomas Lipscomb, and his wife, Nora; and to his many 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 Albert
Louis Lipscomb.