By:  Denton                                            H.R. No. 787
       73R1751 PAN-F
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The death of the Reverend Robert Gilbert on November
    1-2  11, 1992, at the age of 50, has brought a great loss to the many
    1-3  friends and relatives of this distinguished Texas clergyman and
    1-4  champion of social justice; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Born in Waco on December 27, 1941, and graduated
    1-6  from A. J. Moore High School, he was a pioneer in breaking racial
    1-7  barriers facing black residents in the community; in 1967, he
    1-8  became the first black student graduated from Baylor University,
    1-9  and, the next year, the first black teacher in an all-white public
   1-10  school in Waco; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, On his ordination, the Reverend Gilbert began his
   1-12  pastoral ministry by offering spiritual guidance to the
   1-13  congregations of Good Hope Baptist Church in Chilton and Macedonia
   1-14  Baptist Church in Bremond before being called to Waco, where he
   1-15  provided 12 years of faithful service as the pastor of Carver Park
   1-16  Baptist Church; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, A man ahead of his time in the struggle for civil
   1-18  and human rights, the Reverend Gilbert was committed to creating a
   1-19  climate in this state and nation that would ensure the dignity and
   1-20  basic human rights of all citizens, and worked toward the goal of
   1-21  achieving racial tolerance through his service as vice-chairman of
   1-22  the Waco Human Relations Commission and as a consultant to the U.S.
   1-23  Civil Rights Commission; and
   1-24        WHEREAS, His dedication to the needs of young people was
    2-1  reflected in his service on the Waco school board and as assistant
    2-2  director of Baylor's Upward Bound program, which he helped to
    2-3  found; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, In recognition of the many and significant
    2-5  contributions he made in behalf of the community, the Reverend
    2-6  Gilbert was chosen as the National Association of Social Work's
    2-7  Citizen of the Year in 1981 and was honored with the prestigious
    2-8  Humanitarian of the Year award by the Waco Conference of Christians
    2-9  and Jews; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, Afflicted with arthritis since the age of 14 and in
   2-11  poor health for much of his life, he served as an inspiration to
   2-12  all who knew him personally and through his work, which was
   2-13  recounted in a biography appropriately entitled No Excuses
   2-14  Accepted; and
   2-15        WHEREAS, Throughout his many years of outstanding service,
   2-16  the Reverend Gilbert placed the spiritual needs of his
   2-17  congregations and the needs of his community above all else; though
   2-18  his passing will be widely mourned throughout the Waco community,
   2-19  his memory will long endure in the hearts and minds of the many
   2-20  people whose lives were touched by this dedicated and courageous
   2-21  gentleman; now, therefore, be it
   2-22        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-23  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Reverend Robert
   2-24  Gilbert and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his
   2-25  family:  to his wife, Elwayne Gilbert; to his daughter, Evangeline
   2-26  Slaughter; to his two sons, JaJa Gilbert and Kenyatta Gilbert; to
   2-27  his mother, Fannie Gilbert Robinson; to his sister, LaRue Dorsey;
    3-1  to his three brothers, Benotha Gilbert, the Reverend Samuel
    3-2  J. Gilbert, and Charles Earl Gilbert; to his three grandchildren;
    3-3  and to the other members of his family; and, be it further
    3-4        RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
    3-5  for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of
    3-6  Representatives adjourns today, it do so in memory of the Reverend
    3-7  Robert Gilbert.