| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1850 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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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, Pastor Kennedy Jones was installed as president of |
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| 6 | 6 | | the Arlington Branch of the NAACP on January 11, 2023; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, A native of Fort Deposit, Alabama, Pastor Jones |
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| 8 | 8 | | holds bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering |
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| 9 | 9 | | from the University of Alabama, and he has worked as an engineering |
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| 10 | 10 | | dynamicist for LTV Aerospace and Defense Company in Dallas; he |
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| 11 | 11 | | answered the call to the ministry at First Community Missionary |
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| 12 | 12 | | Baptist Church in 1987, and he later became the founding pastor of |
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| 13 | 13 | | Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church in 1991; and |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Over the years, Pastor Jones has volunteered his |
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| 15 | 15 | | time as a youth sports coach and mentor to young men in Arlington |
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| 16 | 16 | | and Mansfield; he has also led his church in the creation of youth |
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| 17 | 17 | | enrichment programs and in forming a partnership with Hope Tutoring |
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| 18 | 18 | | Center to provide help to Arlington ISD students; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, The son of parents who were actively involved in the |
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| 20 | 20 | | civil rights movement in Alabama, Pastor Jones has followed in |
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| 21 | 21 | | their footsteps through his work in the areas of social and economic |
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| 22 | 22 | | justice and criminal justice reform; he previously served as |
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| 23 | 23 | | co-chair of the Religious Affairs Committee of the NAACP's |
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| 24 | 24 | | Arlington Branch, which honored him with its Nelson Mandela Award |
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| 25 | 25 | | in 2018, and he has done valuable work in the community as a member |
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| 26 | 26 | | of the Arlington MLK Celebration Committee; in his role as |
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| 27 | 27 | | president of the Arlington Ministerial Association, he has |
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| 28 | 28 | | collaborated with the Arlington Police Department and the Tarrant |
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| 29 | 29 | | County district attorney to address issues related to the improper |
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| 30 | 30 | | use of deadly force by law enforcement against persons of color; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Pastor Jones enjoys the love |
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| 32 | 32 | | and support of his wife of 40 years, First Lady Elaine Jones, and he |
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| 33 | 33 | | takes great pride in their two children, Kenda and Kennedy; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, This esteemed clergyman has rendered immeasurable |
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| 35 | 35 | | service to both his congregation and his community, and he is indeed |
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| 36 | 36 | | deserving of the confidence that has been placed in him by the |
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| 37 | 37 | | members of the NAACP Arlington Branch; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 39 | 39 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Pastor Kennedy Jones on his |
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| 40 | 40 | | installation as president of the Arlington Branch of the NAACP and |
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| 41 | 41 | | extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 43 | 43 | | prepared for Pastor Jones as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 44 | 44 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 45 | 45 | | Turner |
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| 46 | 46 | | ______________________________ |
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| 47 | 47 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 48 | 48 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1850 was adopted by the House on May |
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| 49 | 49 | | 25, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 50 | 50 | | ______________________________ |
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| 51 | 51 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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