| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The 80th birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | cause for celebration, and Thomas James Patterson Sr. is reaching |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | that impressive milestone on June 29, 2017; and |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born to Hannah Lee Barton in Waxahachie in 1937, |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | T. J. Patterson graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | Wichita Falls and attended Bishop College in Marshall, where he |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | earned his degree in 1954; while visiting Lubbock, he met his future |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | wife, Bobbie Gean Bailey, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage, |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | until her death in 2012; the couple raised three children, Avis |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | Elise, Thomas James, and Shelia Renee; and |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Patterson joined the armed forces in 1961 and |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | served for 13 months in Vietnam; after returning to civilian life in |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | Lubbock, he embarked on a career in education, initially teaching |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | at Mary and Mac Private School; later, for much of the 1970s, he |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | served as assistant to the dean of the College of Business at Texas |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | Tech University; and |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan became the first African |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | American to hold elected public office in Lubbock when he won a seat |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | representing District 2 on the city council in 1984; he served in |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | that post for 20 years, and during his tenure, he also became the |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | first African American in Lubbock to hold the office of mayor pro |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | tempore; in addition, Mr. Patterson served as the first black |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | president of the Texas Municipal League, and he founded and served |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | as president of the Association of Black City Council members; and |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, A longtime champion of civil rights and the black |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | community, T. J. Patterson cofounded the Southwest Digest, which |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | has given voice to the concerns and perspectives of African |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | Americans in northwest Texas since its inception in 1977; over the |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | years, he has also led nearly 100 local marches against violence and |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | drugs, and every Christmas for the past 22 years, he has shared a |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | message of hope with inmates of the Lubbock County Jail; and |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Deeply committed to a life of service, Mr. Patterson |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | has received a host of accolades in recognition of his efforts to |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | help others and to better his community; his honors include being |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | named Texas Tech's Man of the Year by the university's student |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | yearbook, La Ventana, and having a library, now known as the Bobbie |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | Gean and T. J. Patterson Public Library, dedicated in his honor; and |
|---|
| 42 | 43 | | WHEREAS, Respected and admired by all those who are |
|---|
| 43 | 44 | | privileged to know him, T. J. Patterson may reflect with great |
|---|
| 44 | 45 | | satisfaction on a lifetime of achievement, and it is indeed a |
|---|
| 45 | 46 | | pleasure to join his many friends and loved ones in honoring him on |
|---|
| 46 | 47 | | this memorable occasion; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|---|
| 48 | 49 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Thomas James Patterson Sr. on his |
|---|
| 49 | 50 | | 80th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; |
|---|
| 50 | 51 | | and, be it further |
|---|
| 51 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 52 | 53 | | prepared for Mr. Patterson as an expression of high regard by the |
|---|
| 53 | 54 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
|---|