H.R. No. 308
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Texas LGBTQ community lost one of its giants
with the death of civil rights attorney Donald J. Maison of Dallas
on February 21, 2022, at the age of 74; and
WHEREAS, The son of Donald J. Maison Sr. and Lucille Crevier
Maison, Don Maison was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, on May 18,
1947; he graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington and
St. Mary's University School of Law, and his passion for social
justice drove his career; in the wake of raids on gay clubs, he
pursued litigation that sparked change in the Dallas Police
Department; he successfully sued Parkland Memorial Hospital in
behalf of AIDS patients struggling to access treatment, and his
victories further included a lengthy class action discrimination
suit against Southwest Airlines; after becoming president and CEO
of AIDS Services of Dallas in 1988, he overcame many challenges to
transform the organization into a national model, which today
provides housing and support services for low-income men, women,
and children living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS; his remarkable
tenure spanned 32 years until his retirement; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Maison gave generously of his time and expertise
in such leadership roles as co-chair of the National AIDS Housing
Coalition, director for the Texas AIDS Network, and member of the
Dallas EMA Health Services Planning Council, the National AIDS
Communications Roundtable, and the Dallas Homeless Consortium;
long involved in Democratic politics, he helped move the state and
local party in a more progressive direction and served as a precinct
chair, election judge, and member of the state executive committee;
in his leisure time, he was an avid world traveler, forming many
lasting friendships while exploring local cultures and availing
himself of public transportation; and
WHEREAS, Through his exceptional contributions, Don Maison
made a profound difference in countless lives, and he will be
remembered with deep admiration and affection by all who were
privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Donald J. Maison
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
partner, Richmond Morris; to his sisters, Joan Maison Dopp, Lisa
Maison Ceunick, and Kathleen Maison Cohen; and to his other
relatives and many friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Don Maison.
González of Dallas
Davis
Bryant
Anchía
Jones of Dallas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 308 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 8, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House