H.R. No. 1193
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to
a close with the passing of admired community leader Ruth Laverne
Wells Wyrick of Dallas on April 14, 2023, at the age of 88; and
WHEREAS, Born in Waco on September 29, 1934, the former Ruth
Wells graduated from Southwestern Christian College; after moving
to Dallas, she met and married a fellow alumnus, Ernest "Deacon"
Wyrick, and they were blessed with two children, Narleski and
Natesha "Shay"; Mrs. Wyrick joined other parents in establishing
Christian Academy of Oak Cliff, where she was a member of the Parent
Teacher Organization and the Ladies Auxiliary for Christian
Education; an educator herself, she was employed by the Dallas
Independent School District until her retirement in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Wyrick were very involved in Marsalis
Avenue Church of Christ and in their denomination's National Youth
Conference, and Mrs. Wyrick was instrumental in the establishment
of the conference's iconic pageant; moreover, she was a formidable
fundraiser for her alma mater, the only HBCU affiliated with the
Churches of Christ, and she served as a trustee and member of its
executive committee; named Alumnus of the Year three times, she was
awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters for her service; and
WHEREAS, Highly engaged in civic life as well, Mrs. Wyrick
was a Democratic precinct chair for a half century and served as a
Dallas County election judge in South Oak Cliff for every
municipal, state, and partisan election through 2021; she worked on
campaigns for many African American candidates who broke barriers
in Dallas County, and her support and endorsement were highly
sought; dedicated to getting out the vote, she was so effective that
her children's friends would call to assure her that they had,
indeed, cast their ballots; she served on the Dallas County
Citizens Elections Advisory Committee, the Dallas County Grand
Jury, and the City of Dallas Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
Board, which she chaired; in addition, she was a member of numerous
other boards, commissions, and organizations, including the Dallas
Branch of the NAACP and the Progressive Voters League; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Wyrick and her husband shared a fulfilling
relationship of 59 years until his passing in 2020; she took great
pride in their two children as well as in their grandsons, Ryan,
Richard, Noah, Caleb, and Luke, and great-grandson, Sebastian Dean;
and
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to her family, her faith, and her
community, Ruth Wyrick leaves behind a legacy of good works that
will long be remembered; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ruth Laverne Wells
Wyrick and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruth
Wyrick.
Davis
Jones of Dallas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1193 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 21, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House