By Dutton H.C.R. No. 99
74R5959 PFG-D
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The recent passing of John Wesley Peavy, Sr., of
1-2 Houston on February 5, 1995, at the age of 88, has brought great
1-3 sadness to the many friends and relatives of this respected civic
1-4 and labor leader; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A native of Bethel Grove, Texas, Mr. Peavy was
1-6 graduated from Grimes County High School in Anderson as a young man
1-7 and left the quiet surroundings of rural East Texas after
1-8 graduation in search of a better life; he arrived in Houston in
1-9 1924 and was employed for a year with a life insurance company
1-10 while exploring other career opportunities in the area; and
1-11 WHEREAS, Mr. Peavy found permanent employment on the
1-12 waterfront a year later and would dedicate himself to this
1-13 demanding profession and the needs of his fellow laborers over the
1-14 course of the next six decades until his retirement in 1985; and
1-15 WHEREAS, Realizing the need for union representation in his
1-16 chosen field, he founded Local 872 of the International
1-17 Longshoremen's Association and successfully championed the rights
1-18 of others in his field as an astute political activist; a skilled
1-19 lobbyist, he was tapped to fill a leadership role with the AFL-CIO
1-20 during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; and
1-21 WHEREAS, It was during the early days of his career that he
1-22 met and married his beloved wife, the former Malinda Terrell, on
1-23 July 22, 1934, beginning a happy and rewarding life together that
1-24 would span 55 years of marriage and produce three children; soon
2-1 after their wedding, the devoted young couple joined Houston's
2-2 Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where they remained cherished members
2-3 of the congregation throughout their adult lives; and
2-4 WHEREAS, Mr. Peavy was highly regarded by his peers for his
2-5 extraordinary dedication to the African-American community and his
2-6 unmatched tenure as an active participant in Harris County
2-7 political affairs; a noted pioneer who helped pave the way for
2-8 minorities in politics, he was the first African American to attend
2-9 a Texas democratic convention, the first African American to serve
2-10 as an elector from the State of Texas since 1896, and the first
2-11 African American to serve as a precinct judge in Texas; and
2-12 WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished tenure as a precinct
2-13 judge in Houston's Fifth Ward, Mr. Peavy administered the duties of
2-14 the office with great care since 1942, and his valuable service
2-15 helped to ensure the efficiency and integrity of countless
2-16 elections for more than half a century; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Despite his demanding schedule, this remarkable
2-18 gentleman always gave generously of his time and energy to benefit
2-19 the youth of his community as a lifetime member of the South
2-20 Central Branch of the YMCA and as a Boy Scout leader at his church;
2-21 and
2-22 WHEREAS, Mr. Peavy was the recipient of a number of
2-23 well-deserved accolades over the course of his remarkable career,
2-24 which included special recognition for having the longest tenure in
2-25 the African-American political arena of Harris County, receipt of
2-26 The Frankie Award for his civil rights achievements, and a
2-27 community service award for his leadership on the trustee board of
3-1 the Harris County Council of Organization, which he founded; in
3-2 1994, a special public program was held to pay tribute to this
3-3 fine gentleman for his half a century of community service; and
3-4 WHEREAS, Mr. Peavy's inestimable legacy of achievement is
3-5 apparent throughout his community and his fellow citizens chose to
3-6 acknowledge him for his outstanding contributions by naming a
3-7 street in the city's Ship Channel area in his honor, as well as a
3-8 senior citizens center on Market Street; and
3-9 WHEREAS, John Wesley Peavy, Sr., dedicated his life to
3-10 securing a brighter future for Texas workers and the members of his
3-11 community; though his presence will be sorely missed by all who
3-12 were privileged to know him, his memory will long endure in the
3-13 hearts of those whose lives he touched during his years on this
3-14 earth; now, therefore, be it
3-15 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-16 hereby pay tribute to the life of John Wesley Peavy, Sr., and
3-17 extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family: to his
3-18 daughters and son-in-law, Shirley and Victor Peart and Johnnie
3-19 Peavy Viser; to his son and daughter-in-law, Judge John Wesley
3-20 Peavy, Jr., and Diane Peavy of Houston; to his grandchildren, Paul
3-21 Waiters, John W. Peavy III, Wendy Turner, Tiffany Barnes, and Jason
3-22 Peavy; to his great-grandchildren, Andrea McNair, Malinda Waiters,
3-23 Lauren Peavy, and Alexandra Barnes; to his brothers and
3-24 sisters-in-law, Archie and Willie Peavy, Ester J. Peavy, Thomas J.
3-25 Peavy, George and Mae Peavy, and Julius C. Peavy; to his sisters
3-26 and brothers-in-law, Nora and Dan Maxey and Thelmas and Ocie
3-27 Taylor; and to the many other friends and relatives of this fine
4-1 man; and, be it further
4-2 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-3 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
4-4 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in
4-5 memory of John Wesley Peavy, Sr.