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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The city of Houston lost an accomplished physician |
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| 6 | 7 | | and civic leader with the passing of Dr. Rogers O'Neil Whitmire on |
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| 7 | 8 | | May 1, 2015, at the age of 69; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Rogers Whitmire was born in Houston on August 30, |
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| 9 | 10 | | 1945, to Joseph and Rosa Fae Whitmire; a member of the Booker |
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| 10 | 11 | | T. Washington High School Class of 1963, he graduated summa cum |
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| 11 | 12 | | laude with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Prairie View A&M |
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| 12 | 13 | | College in 1967 and went on to complete a master's degree and his |
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| 13 | 14 | | M.D. at Michigan State University; in addition, he earned the |
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| 14 | 15 | | distinction of becoming the first African American to complete the |
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| 15 | 16 | | obstetrics and gynecology program at Baylor College of Medicine; |
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| 16 | 17 | | and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, In 1977, Dr. Whitmire became the first African |
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| 18 | 19 | | American to establish a private practice at the Texas Medical |
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| 19 | 20 | | Center, and he later moved his office to South Main Street, where he |
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| 20 | 21 | | continued to work until his passing; during a career that spanned |
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| 21 | 22 | | nearly four decades, he treated countless area residents and |
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| 22 | 23 | | delivered more than 5,000 babies; he further distinguished himself |
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| 23 | 24 | | as chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at CHRISTUS |
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| 24 | 25 | | St. Joseph Hospital; and |
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| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Deeply committed to his community, Dr. Whitmire |
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| 26 | 27 | | served on the board of directors of the NAACP Houston Branch for |
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| 27 | 28 | | many years, and he was a life member of that organization and of |
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| 28 | 29 | | Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as well as a longtime congregant of |
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| 29 | 30 | | Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Whitmire shared a rewarding marriage with his |
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| 31 | 32 | | wife, Elsie, and he counted among his many blessings a treasured |
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| 32 | 33 | | family that included two children, Michael and Judith, and three |
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| 33 | 34 | | grandchildren, Savannah, Sascha, and Solomon; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Rogers Whitmire was a significant asset to his |
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| 35 | 36 | | community and an inspiring role model to many, and he leaves behind |
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| 36 | 37 | | a record of service that his loved ones can remember with pride; |
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| 37 | 38 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 39 | 40 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Rogers O'Neil |
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| 40 | 41 | | Whitmire and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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| 41 | 42 | | family: to his wife, Elsie Whitmire; to his children, Michael |
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| 42 | 43 | | Whitmire and Dr. Judith Enders; to his grandchildren, Savannah, |
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| 43 | 44 | | Sascha, and Solomon Enders; to his brother, Dr. Gerald Whitmire; |
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| 44 | 45 | | and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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| 45 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 46 | 47 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 47 | 48 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Rogers |
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| 48 | 49 | | O'Neil Whitmire. |
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