H.R. No. 1983
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Friends, loved ones, and television fans across the
nation will forever treasure their memories of actor Sherman
Hemsley, who died in El Paso on July 24, 2012, at the age of 74; and
WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia on February 1, 1938, Sherman
Alexander Hemsley studied as a teenager at the Philadelphia Academy
of Dramatic Arts; he dropped out of high school to serve in the
U.S. Air Force for four years, then returned to Philadelphia to
work for the U.S. Post Office while continuing to study acting at
night; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hemsley moved to New York to pursue an acting
career, and as a member of the Negro Ensemble Company and the Urban
Arts Company, he appeared in a number of productions, including The
Lottery, Old Judge Mose Is Dead, and Step Lively Boys; in 1970, he
made his Broadway debut as Gitlow in the musical Purlie; and
WHEREAS, During a national tour of the show, Mr. Hemsley was
approached by television producer Norman Lear to play a character
on the groundbreaking situation comedy All in the Family; he joined
the cast in 1973 as the blustering and pompous George Jefferson;
this character and his wife, Louise, played by Isabel Sanford, were
such a success that they became the stars of their own show, The
Jeffersons, which ran for 11 seasons, earning Mr. Hemsley
nominations for the Emmy and the Golden Globe; and
WHEREAS, The Jeffersons went off the air in 1985, and
Mr. Hemsley went on to play a scheming church deacon on the sitcom
Amen, voice a triceratops on the live-action puppet series,
Dinosaurs, and make guest appearances on The Fresh Prince of
Bel-Air, Sister, Sister, Family Guy, and Tyler Perry's House of
Payne; as one of the most beloved fictional couples in TV history,
he and Ms. Sanford reprised their signature roles in commercials
for The Gap, Old Navy, and Denny's, and they toured together in the
stage show The Real Live Jeffersons; he was inducted into the
Television Hall of Fame in 2012; and
WHEREAS, In later years, Mr. Hemsley, who was more reserved
than the character who made him famous, enjoyed a quiet life in El
Paso, where he made many friends and became active in local
charities; after his death, befitting his service to his country,
he was buried with military honors at Fort Bliss National Cemetery;
and
WHEREAS, A gifted and energetic performer on the stage and
the screen, Sherman Hemsley was in private life a modest and deeply
spiritual man who took great pleasure in music and the company of
his friends, and he leaves behind a legacy of laughter that
continues to delight countless fans; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and career of Sherman
Hemsley and extend sincere condolences to his friends and loved
ones; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That when the Texas House of Representatives
adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sherman Hemsley.
Pickett
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1983 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on May 17, 2013.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas