SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 204
In Memory
of
Julia Scott Reed
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
honor and commemorate Julia Scott Reed, who died on October 19,
2004, at the age of 87, and to join in celebrating her remarkable
life and achievements in honor of Black History Month in February
of 2023; and
WHEREAS, Julia Scott Reed was born on July 17, 1917, in
Dallas; after attending Booker T. Washington High School and
studying journalism and communications at Wiley College
Extension, Julia began her impressive and trailblazing career in
journalism by working as a reporter for the Kansas City Call; and
WHEREAS, In the course of her distinguished career, Julia
worked for a number of prestigious news outlets, including the
Dallas Express, where she served as a reporter and later as the
paper's editor, and the KNOK-FM radio station, where she hosted
the segment "News and Views"; Julia went on to join the Dallas
Morning News as a reporter, and her research and writing covered
politics, civil rights, and racial conflict during an especially
tumultuous time for the African American community in Dallas; and
WHEREAS, While still working for the Dallas Express, Julia
reported on the historic United States Supreme Court case Brown
v. Board of Education of Topeka, and she covered such notable
stories as the 1954 Waco tornado and the assassination of Lee
Harvey Oswald; in 1967, she was hired by the Dallas Morning News
and became the first African American writer to join the
newspaper's staff; her column, "The Open Line," cemented her
reputation as an influential journalist in Dallas and lent a
voice to the Black community during the racial violence of the
late 1960s; and
WHEREAS, Julia's activism reached beyond her professional
writing; her involvement in the community included serving as a
Democratic Party chair of Precinct 306 for 23 years and serving
as the first president of the Dallas Urban League; she was an
active member of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, Planned Parenthood, and the Goals for Dallas Task
Force, and she was the first African American woman to join the
Dallas Press Club; and
WHEREAS, A woman of courage, strength, conviction, and
unshakeable ideals, Julia led the way for many of the voices of
people of color in Texas journalism, and her many notable
accomplishments and valuable contributions to her profession and
to her community have left an inspiring legacy; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the exceptional life and
achievements of Julia Scott Reed and join in celebrating February
of 2023 as Black History Month; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of the life of Julia Scott Reed.
West
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 22, 2023,
by a rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate