Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HR2383 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.R. No. 2383
2	2
3	3
4	4	R E S O L U T I O N
5	5	WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to
6	6	a close with the death of the Reverend Monsignor Patrick Roland
7	7	Wells of Houston on May 11, 2023, at the age of 92; and
8	8	WHEREAS, The son of Luther and Stella Wells, Patrick Wells
9	9	was born in Ames, Texas, on April 1, 1931; he served in the U.S. Air
10	10	Force, rising to the rank of staff sergeant, and went on to pursue
11	11	an academic career; after completing a doctorate in pharmaceutical
12	12	science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he taught at Fordham
13	13	University and became the first Black faculty member at the
14	14	University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Pharmacy; he then served
15	15	with distinction for many years as dean of the College of Pharmacy
16	16	at Texas Southern University, and he was the editor of the Journal
17	17	of the National Pharmaceutical Association and active in a number
18	18	of professional organizations; and
19	19	WHEREAS, Following his retirement from TSU in 1990, Monsignor
20	20	Wells earned a master of divinity degree from Sacred Heart School of
21	21	Theology in Wisconsin; he was ordained as a priest in 1993 and
22	22	served from then until 2006 as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi
23	23	Catholic Church in Houston; known for his insightful, empathetic,
24	24	and engaging sermons, he traveled the country to speak to Catholic
25	25	groups, and he was dedicated to helping those in need beyond the
26	26	church walls; he had a wonderful sense of humor and a rare ability
27	27	to connect with people from all walks of life; and
28	28	WHEREAS, Monsignor Wells was a founding member of the Unity
29	29	Explosion-Houston Conference, focused on Black Catholic liturgy
30	30	and ministry; moreover, he assisted Black Catholic seminarians in
31	31	their vocation journeys; among other leadership roles, he was a
32	32	consultant to the board of the National Black Catholic Apostolate
33	33	for Life and a longtime member of the National Black Catholic Clergy
34	34	Caucus and the Knights of Peter Claver; he was a chaplain for
35	35	sailors and served in that capacity on cruise ships as well; his
36	36	final assignment was at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in
37	37	Port Isabel; in 2017, he retired to a priests' community; and
38	38	WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his religious calling, Monsignor
39	39	Wells enriched the lives of innumerable people through his warmth,
40	40	wisdom, and compassion, and his contributions will continue to be a
41	41	source of inspiration for years to come; now, therefore, be it
42	42	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
43	43	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Reverend
44	44	Monsignor Patrick Roland Wells and extend sincere sympathy to the
45	45	members of his family: to his son, Henry Gaddis, and his wife,
46	46	Neyluz; to his grandchildren, Aziza Astrid, Xonzy, Henry, and
47	47	Juliana; to his sister-in-law, Bennie Wells; and to his many other
48	48	relatives and friends; and, be it further
49	49	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
50	50	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
51	51	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of the
52	52	Reverend Monsignor Patrick Roland Wells.
53	53	Allen
54	54	______________________________
55	55	Speaker of the House
56	56	I certify that H.R. No. 2383 was unanimously adopted by a
57	57	rising vote of the House on May 29, 2023.
58	58	______________________________
59	59	Chief Clerk of the House