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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas lost an admired |
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leader with the passing of Principal Chief Herbert G. Johnson Sr. on |
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August 9, 2021, at the age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, A member of the Beaver Clan, Herbert Johnson was |
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born on April 3, 1942, on the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation |
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near Livingston; after graduating from high school, he studied at |
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Jacksonville College, where he enjoyed a successful basketball |
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career; among his many achievements, he earned All-American |
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recognition in 1963, and he was later honored by the college as a |
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Distinguished Alumnus; he also briefly attended the University of |
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Houston, and he went on to obtain certification from Kilgore |
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College and the Angelina Criminal Justice Center as an East Texas |
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Police Academy reserve officer; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson served two terms on the |
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Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Council and worked as the tribal security |
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director for more than two decades before his retirement in 2012; |
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the following year, he was elected as the tribe's second chief, and |
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he held that position until January 1, 2020, when he was installed |
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as principal chief, or Mikko Choba Skalaaba; along the way, he |
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served with the tribe's volunteer fire department and managed |
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tribal softball and basketball leagues, and he was a member of the |
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Big Sandy Independent School District Board of Trustees for 48 |
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years; a man of deep faith, he was also a deacon and elder of the |
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Indian Presbyterian Church; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Johnson benefited from the |
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love and support of his wife, Deloris; he was the proud father of |
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five children, Davie, Delbert, Retha, Herbert, and Heather, and he |
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had the pleasure of welcoming into his family numerous |
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grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his community, Mikko Choba |
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Skalaaba Herbert Johnson made a meaningful difference in the lives |
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of his loved ones and fellow citizens alike, and his contributions |
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to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas will continue to resonate |
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in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Principal Chief Herbert G. Johnson Sr. and extend deepest |
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sympathy to all who mourn his passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Chief |
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Herbert Johnson. |