H.R. No. 84 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor 1-2 Mr. R. C. Hickman for the many significant contributions he has 1-3 made to the preservation of African-American history in Texas; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A native of Mineola, he began his distinguished 1-5 career in photography while serving in the United States Army 1-6 during World War II; he rapidly excelled in his chosen field and 1-7 eventually became an official military photographer; and 1-8 WHEREAS, When the war ended, he returned to the Dallas 1-9 community and pursued his artistic talents as a photojournalist 1-10 with the Dallas Star Post and several other local newspapers; he 1-11 also did freelance work for many highly acclaimed national 1-12 publications, including Jet, Sepia, and Ebony; and 1-13 WHEREAS, This remarkable gentleman continued to make 1-14 substantial contributions to the black community as a photographer 1-15 for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 1-16 where his moving photographs documented the effects of racial 1-17 segregation and the struggle to end it; as the community's 1-18 "unofficial" photographer from 1949 to 1961, he recorded the daily 1-19 lives of his friends and neighbors as they worked, played, and 1-20 yearned for their fair share of the American dream; and 1-21 WHEREAS, In 1985 Mr. Hickman generously donated 3,000 of his 1-22 photographic negatives and prints to the Center for American 1-23 History at The University of Texas at Austin, and today the R. C. 1-24 Hickman Photographic Archive serves as an important resource for 2-1 research in such areas as the post-1945 civil rights movement, 2-2 photojournalism, urban studies, and African-American history; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Moreover, his important works have been enjoyed by 2-4 countless Texans at exhibitions in Austin and Dallas and will 2-5 continue to have a positive impact on many others through his 2-6 highly acclaimed book, Behold the People; and 2-7 WHEREAS, In recognition of his outstanding efforts to 2-8 chronicle three decades of the African-American experience in 2-9 Texas, Mr. Hickman was commissioned an Ambassador of Goodwill by 2-10 Governor William P. Clements and also earned special commendations 2-11 from the United States Congress and the city of Dallas; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Hickman has 2-13 worked to artistically preserve the fabric of life of the 2-14 African-American community in our state, and through his remarkable 2-15 efforts, he has enhanced the awareness and self-esteem of 2-16 generations of Texans; by chronicling a difficult period in 2-17 American life, he has ensured that it will not be forgotten, and 2-18 his photographic record will stand as a tribute to the power, 2-19 dignity, and strength of the human spirit; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-21 Legislature hereby commend Mr. R. C. Hickman for his outstanding 2-22 contributions to the preservation of African-American history in 2-23 Texas and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors; 2-24 and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-26 prepared for Mr. Hickman as an expression of high esteem from the 2-27 Texas House of Representatives.