| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1066 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The Reverend D. N. Benford Sr. of Rising Star |
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| 6 | 6 | | Missionary Baptist Church in Texas City was recognized as the |
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| 7 | 7 | | longest-serving pastor of the same church by Guinness World Records |
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| 8 | 8 | | in 2022; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Called to the ministry at the age of 12, D. N. |
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| 10 | 10 | | Benford delivered his first sermon when he was 14; he went on to |
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| 11 | 11 | | serve as a guest pastor at Rising Star Missionary Baptist in 1947 |
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| 12 | 12 | | and preached for the congregation again in June 1950 before |
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| 13 | 13 | | officially assuming the pulpit on August 27 of that year; for the |
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| 14 | 14 | | past 72 years, he has provided valued inspiration and guidance to |
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| 15 | 15 | | his community of faith, gaining a wealth of wisdom and knowledge |
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| 16 | 16 | | along the way; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, In addition to leading his congregation, Reverend |
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| 18 | 18 | | Benford played an important role in fighting segregation in |
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| 19 | 19 | | Galveston County, with Rising Star serving as a headquarters for |
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| 20 | 20 | | the local civil rights movement; he was also a driving force in |
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| 21 | 21 | | integrating Texas City and La Marque High Schools and in helping the |
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| 22 | 22 | | first Black person to become a member of the La Marque Independent |
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| 23 | 23 | | School District Board of Trustees; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable tenure, Reverend Benford |
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| 25 | 25 | | has wholeheartedly committed himself to advancing the mission of |
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| 26 | 26 | | Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church, and he truly exemplifies the |
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| 27 | 27 | | highest standards of his vocation; now, therefore, be it |
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| 28 | 28 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 29 | 29 | | Legislature hereby congratulate the Reverend D. N. Benford Sr. of |
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| 30 | 30 | | Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in Texas City on his |
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| 31 | 31 | | recognition as the longest-serving pastor of the same church and |
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| 32 | 32 | | extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 33 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 34 | 34 | | prepared for Reverend Benford as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 35 | 35 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 36 | 36 | | Leo-Wilson |
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| 37 | 37 | | ______________________________ |
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| 38 | 38 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 39 | 39 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1066 was adopted by the House on April |
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| 40 | 40 | | 20, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 41 | 41 | | ______________________________ |
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| 42 | 42 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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