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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, For more than half a century, James Fuller has |
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dedicated himself to the advancement of education and civil rights |
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in West Texas through his work as an educator, administrator, and |
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member of the Midland school board; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of San Angelo, Mr. Fuller received his |
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early education in segregated schools, and after serving in the |
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U.S. Marine Corps, he earned an associate's degree from San Angelo |
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College, a bachelor's degree from North Texas State University, and |
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a master's degree from Texas Tech University; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary 52-year career, |
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Mr. Fuller has been a champion for equality of opportunity and fair |
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access to education; he taught for the Lubbock Independent School |
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District and for Midland College, where he was an English professor |
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for more than four decades; he also served the college as |
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coordinator of the Professional Development and Teaching and |
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Learning Center, director of the Campus Writing Lab, and assistant |
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director of Developmental Studies; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1988, Mr. Fuller was elected to the board of |
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trustees of Midland ISD, and he served for 33 years, becoming the |
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longest-tenured Black elected official in the city's history; he |
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has been active as well with the Federation of Citizens United to |
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Serve, Habitat for Humanity, Leadership Midland, the Midland |
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African American Roots Historical/Cultural Arts Council, the |
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Midland African American Chamber of Entrepreneurs, and the NAACP; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Fuller's numerous awards include the Good |
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Samaritan Award for Outstanding Community Service, an honorary life |
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membership in the National PTA, the Community Service Award of the |
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Midland chapter of the Links, Inc., the Premier Citizen Award from |
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the Negro Business and Professional Women's Club of Midland, and |
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the Community Service Award from the Midland branch of the NAACP, |
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among others; and |
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WHEREAS, A certified lay preacher, Mr. Fuller has been the |
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pastor of the Visionary Hollowell United Methodist Church, a |
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delegate to the UMC Northwest Texas Annual Conference, and an |
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officer of St. Mark's United Methodist Church; throughout his life, |
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he has worked alongside his wife of nearly 60 years, Robbyne Hocker |
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Fuller, Midland's first licensed Black real estate agent, and |
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together they have championed African American art, culture, and |
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business; and |
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WHEREAS, James Fuller's dedication, drive, and passion for |
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justice have earned him the lasting respect and admiration of the |
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citizens of Midland, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his |
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outstanding record of achievement; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commend James Fuller for his decades of service to the city |
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of Midland and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Fuller as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives and Senate. |