H.R. No. 452 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February 2017 provides a welcome opportunity to recognize the rich cultural heritage of African Americans and the significant contributions they have made and are making to the Lone Star State and to the world at large; and WHEREAS, A weeklong observance focusing on black history was established in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the Harvard-trained historian and son of former slaves who founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History; the first Negro History Week, held in the week that encompassed both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass's birthdays, was met with a warm reception throughout the country, and February was officially recognized as Black History Month by the U.S. government in 1976 and by the State of Texas in 1983; and WHEREAS, The Lone Star State has greatly benefited from the leadership and vision of numerous African American lawmakers, beginning with those elected during the Reconstruction Era after African American men were granted the right to vote with the ratification of the 15th Amendment; though discriminatory voting laws restricted the opportunity for representation in the Texas Legislature between 1899 and 1967, the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 helped return African Americans to legislative offices; and WHEREAS, The list of African Americans who have served in the Texas Legislature includes David Abner Sr., Alma Allen, Richard Allen, Edward Anderson, Alexander Asberry, Houston A. P. Bassett, Thomas Beck, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Fred Blair, Edward Brown, D. W. Burley, Walter Moses Burton, Stefani Carter, Reby Cary, Lanell Cofer, Garnet Coleman, Nicole Collier, Giles Cotton, Yvonne Davis, Wilhelmina Delco, Joe Deshotel, Dawnna Dukes, J. Goldsteen Dupree, Harold V. Dutton Jr., Leonard Edward Briscoe, Al Edwards, Rodney Ellis, Larry Q. Evans, Robert J. Evans, Jacob E. Freeman, Matthew Gaines, Harriel G. Geiger, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Helen Giddings, Ron D. Givens, Curtis M. Graves, Bedford A. Guy, Anthony Hall, Nathan H. Haller, Jeremiah J. Hamilton, Terri Hodge, William H. Holland, Zan W. Holmes Jr., Samuel Hudson III, Eric Johnson, Jarvis Johnson, Jesse Jones, Karyne Jones Conley, Ruth Jones McClendon, Barbara Jordan, Mitchell Kendall, Robert A. Kerr, Alex F. Kinneson, Jerald H. Larry, El Franco Lee, George "Mickey" Leland, Doc C. Lewis, Glen Lewis, Joseph E. Lockridge, Barbara Mallory Caraway, Elias Mayes, David Medlock, Borris Miles, John Mitchell, Henry Moore, Robert J. Moore, Sheppard Mullens, Jesse Oliver, Edward Patton, Henry Phelps, Albert Price, Paul Ragsdale, Ron Reynolds, Walter E. Ripton, Meshack R. Roberts, Toni Rose, George T. Ruby, Alonzo Sledge, Robert Lloyd Smith, Clay Smothers, Henry Sneed, James H. Stewart, Garlington Jerome "G. J." Sutton, Lou Nelle Sutton, Shawn Thierry, Garfield Thompson, Laura Thompson, Senfronia Thompson, Scott Turner, Sylvester Turner, Marc Veasey, Craig A. Washington, James H. Washington, Bobby Webber, Royce West, James White, Allen W. Wilder, Benjamin Franklin Williams, Richard Williams, Ron Wilson, and George W. Wyatt; and WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month highlights the myriad ways in which African Americans have helped shape this nation over the course of four centuries; it also serves as a reminder that the immeasurable benefits of living in a truly diverse society, with equal treatment for all, should motivate our words and our actions every month of every year; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Legislature hereby commemorate February 2017 as Black History Month and encourage all citizens to learn more about the history and accomplishments of African Americans. Johnson of Dallas Straus Goldman Oliverson Straus Goldman Oliverson Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Alvarado Gooden Parker Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anchia Guerra Paul Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Arévalo Hefner Phillips Arévalo Hefner Phillips Arévalo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Ashby Hernandez Pickett Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bailes Herrero Price Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bell Hinojosa Raney Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Bernal Holland Raymond Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Biedermann Howard Reynolds Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bohac Hunter Roberts Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Burrows Kacal Sanford Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Button Keough Schaefer Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Canales King of Parker Schubert Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Clardy Klick Sheffield Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Coleman Koop Shine Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Collier Krause Simmons Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cook Kuempel Smithee Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cortez Lambert Springer Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Craddick Lang Stickland Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Cyrier Larson Stucky Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Dale Laubenberg Swanson Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Darby Leach Thierry Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Deshotel Martinez Turner Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Elkins Miller Villalba Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Faircloth Minjarez Vo Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Fallon Moody Walle Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Farrar Morrison White Farrar Morrison White Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frank Murphy Workman Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Frullo Murr Wray Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Geren Neave Wu Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Giddings Oliveira Zerwas ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 452 was adopted by the House on February 21, 2017, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Arévalo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas