| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
|
|
meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends |
|
|
of Johnny Welton Self, who passed away on December 21, 2022, at the |
|
|
age of 72; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The son of Helen Self Hickman and Jonas Banks, John |
|
|
Self was born in Zachary, Louisiana, on January 29, 1950, and grew |
|
|
up in a family that included his siblings, Clarence, Billy, |
|
|
Barbara, and Ernest; he graduated from Chaneyville High School and |
|
|
earned his bachelor's degree from the School of Business Management |
|
|
at Southern University; on June 23, 1973, he married his soulmate |
|
|
and best friend, the former Beatrice "Bea" Tapps, and they were |
|
|
blessed with two children, Jeremy and Jarita; their treasured |
|
|
family later grew to include three grandchildren, Tristan, Tatum, |
|
|
and Troy Johnny; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1973, Mr. Self became the City of Arlington's |
|
|
first Black firefighter; he later joined the office of the Texas |
|
|
Comptroller of Public Accounts before embarking on a noteworthy |
|
|
career with TXU Energy/Oncor; there, he blazed another trail, |
|
|
becoming the company's first male African American vice president; |
|
|
during his many years representing TXU/Oncor at the State Capitol, |
|
|
his warmth, charm, and expertise earned him the admiration and |
|
|
friendship of many; following his retirement in 2008, he continued |
|
|
to work as a political consultant, maintaining close ties with his |
|
|
numerous acquaintances in Austin; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, Mr. Self joined Mount Olive |
|
|
Baptist Church in 1972; he served the congregation in numerous |
|
|
capacities through the years, among them usher, Sunday school |
|
|
teacher, deacon, and member of the executive board; no task was too |
|
|
small or too large, whether organizing a cleanup crew or leading |
|
|
construction of Lucille Baptist Church in Palmer; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, While his loss is difficult to bear, John Self |
|
|
leaves behind a host of friends and loved ones whose lives are far |
|
|
richer for having known him, and he will always hold a treasured |
|
|
place in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Johnny Welton Self |
|
|
and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
|
|
wife of 49 years, Beatrice Self; to his children, Jeremy Self and |
|
|
his wife, Angela, and Jarita Gardner and her husband, Troy; to his |
|
|
grandchildren, Tristan, Tatum, and Troy Johnny; to his siblings, |
|
|
Clarence Self and his wife, Dafiney, Billy Self, and Barbara |
|
|
Anderson; to his sisters-in-law, Mary Tapps, Gladys Bets, Dorothy |
|
|
Shaw and her husband, David, Shirley Tapps, Barbara Netters, Pamela |
|
|
Jackson, and Diana Davis; to his brother-in-law, Raymond Tapps, and |
|
|
his wife, Gayle; and to all who mourn his passing; 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 Johnny |
|
|
Self. |