89R26095 DSH-D
By: Garcia Hernandez H.R. No. 962
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Defensive Line is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to suicide prevention, and the group's cofounder and
chief education officer, Martha Thomas, is visiting the Capitol on
May 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, A resident of Coppell, Mrs. Thomas helped establish
The Defensive Line in 2021 after the tragic suicide of her
24-year-old daughter, Ella, in January 2018; cofounded with her
husband, Chris Thomas, and their son, Dallas Cowboys defensive
lineman Solomon Thomas, The Defensive Line seeks to end the
epidemic of youth suicide, especially for young people of color, by
transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental
health; and
WHEREAS, After working in education for more than 30 years,
Mrs. Thomas left teaching in 2022 to devote herself full-time to The
Defensive Line; drawing on her insights into the realities of the
classroom, she educates participants about suicide prevention
through the organization's workshops, which guide teachers and
leaders through the facts of youth suicide, particularly for people
of color, and prepare them to address mental health crises,
initiate difficult conversations, develop an action plan, and
create a safe environment; Mrs. Thomas has led programming
partnerships in the Dallas and Fort Worth Independent School
Districts and at Baylor University and Stanford University, and she
is a popular podcast guest and keynote speaker; she and her husband
serve as faculty members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and
are involved with Project ECHO, its telementoring program; and
WHEREAS, The Defensive Line has called much-needed attention
to the issue of youth suicide and to the actions that can be taken to
help save lives, and it is a pleasure to join in recognizing Martha
Thomas and her colleagues for their steadfast commitment to this
worthy cause; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Martha Thomas and The Defensive Line for
their efforts to prevent youth suicide and extend to all those
affiliated with the organization sincere best wishes for continued
success with their important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mrs. Thomas as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.