H.C.R. No. 58
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, A former slave who rose to prominence as a
businessman and civic leader, Charlie Brown played a significant
role in the history of Brazoria County, and his life and legacy are
indeed worthy of tribute; and
WHEREAS, Born in Virginia, Charlie Brown traveled west to
Texas following his emancipation and settled in Brazoria County;
though unable to read or write, he had an innate business sense that
led him to a number of successful entrepreneurial endeavors; he
harvested cedar lumber to be milled in Galveston and shipped to
furniture makers in New York, and his interests grew to include a
gristmill, a syrup mill, and a cotton gin; and
WHEREAS, With the wealth he acquired, Mr. Brown purchased
land, eventually amassing some 3,000 acres near present-day
Danciger and another 200 in what is now West Columbia, where at one
time he owned a third of the town's property; he married a former
slave of the Dance family, Isabella, and the couple acquired the
Dance estate for their home; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Brown donated land for schools in Danciger,
Linville, and West Columbia; the latter of the three became the
Charlie Brown School, which educated children of color in the
community for many decades before it was closed in 1965; Mr. Brown
believed strongly that students should learn about and understand
the struggles of their African American forebears, and he began a
Juneteenth Celebration to commemorate the end of slavery in Texas;
and
WHEREAS, When Charlie Brown passed away in 1920 at the age of
92, he was thought to be the wealthiest African American in the
state, and he was highly respected by people from all walks of life;
in 1955, a street was dedicated in his name by order of the city
council of West Columbia, and most recently, his achievements and
generosity were recognized with the mayoral proclamation of Charlie
Brown Day in West Columbia on August 30, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Although he lived through slavery and its
injustices, Charlie Brown became a prosperous landowner and a force
for good in his community, and his remarkable story serves as an
enduring source of inspiration; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commemorate the life of Charlie Brown and honor the unique
contribution he made to the history of Brazoria County and the State
of Texas.
Bonnen of Brazoria
Straus Guerra Otto Straus Guerra Otto
Straus Guerra Otto
Allen Guillen Paddie Allen Guillen Paddie
Allen Guillen Paddie
Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul
Alvarado Harless Paul
Anchia Hernandez Peña Anchia Hernandez Peña
Anchia Hernandez Peña
Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
Ashby Huberty Pickett Ashby Huberty Pickett
Ashby Huberty Pickett
Aycock Hughes Price Aycock Hughes Price
Aycock Hughes Price
Bell Hunter Raney Bell Hunter Raney
Bell Hunter Raney
Blanco Isaac Raymond Blanco Isaac Raymond
Blanco Isaac Raymond
Bohac Israel Reynolds Bohac Israel Reynolds
Bohac Israel Reynolds
Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
Button King of Parker Rose Button King of Parker Rose
Button King of Parker Rose
Canales King of Taylor Sanford Canales King of Taylor Sanford
Canales King of Taylor Sanford
Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
Clardy Klick Schofield Clardy Klick Schofield
Clardy Klick Schofield
Coleman Koop Shaheen Coleman Koop Shaheen
Coleman Koop Shaheen
Collier Krause Sheets Collier Krause Sheets
Collier Krause Sheets
Cook Kuempel Sheffield Cook Kuempel Sheffield
Cook Kuempel Sheffield
Craddick Landgraf Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simmons
Craddick Landgraf Simmons
Crownover Larson Simpson Crownover Larson Simpson
Crownover Larson Simpson
Dale Laubenberg Smith Dale Laubenberg Smith
Dale Laubenberg Smith
Darby Leach Smithee Darby Leach Smithee
Darby Leach Smithee
Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
Dukes Márquez Stickland Dukes Márquez Stickland
Dukes Márquez Stickland
Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles VanDeaver Farrar Miles VanDeaver
Farrar Miles VanDeaver
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
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 of Bell Frullo Morrison White of Bell
Frullo Morrison White of Bell
Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
Geren Murphy Workman Geren Murphy Workman
Geren Murphy Workman
Giddings Murr Wray Giddings Murr Wray
Giddings Murr Wray
Goldman Naishtat Wu Goldman Naishtat Wu
Goldman Naishtat Wu
Gonzales Nevárez Zedler Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
González Oliveira Zerwas González Oliveira Zerwas
González Oliveira Zerwas
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 58 was adopted by the House on
February 24, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 58 was adopted by the Senate on
February 24, 2015, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor
Straus Guerra Otto
Allen Guillen Paddie
Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
Alvarado Harless Paul
Anchia Hernandez Peña
Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
Ashby Huberty Pickett
Aycock Hughes Price
Bell Hunter Raney
Blanco Isaac Raymond
Bohac Israel Reynolds
Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
Button King of Parker Rose
Canales King of Taylor Sanford
Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
Clardy Klick Schofield
Coleman Koop Shaheen
Collier Krause Sheets
Cook Kuempel Sheffield
Craddick Landgraf Simmons
Crownover Larson Simpson
Dale Laubenberg Smith
Darby Leach Smithee
Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
Dukes Márquez Stickland
Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles VanDeaver
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White of Bell
Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
Geren Murphy Workman
Giddings Murr Wray
Goldman Naishtat Wu
Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
González Oliveira Zerwas