By McCoulskey H.R. No. 167 74R5271 PAN-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Reverend Curtis R. Lucas, the pastor of Mount Carmel 1-2 Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond, was honored as the Small 1-3 Community Minister of the Year at the 49th annual Town and Country 1-4 Church Conference in October 1994, and this special recognition is 1-5 indeed well deserved; and 1-6 WHEREAS, In selecting Reverend Lucas as the first recipient 1-7 of this award, members of the awards committee acknowledged that it 1-8 was time to pay tribute to a minister in a rural setting whose 1-9 congregation is faced with many of the same problems as those found 1-10 in urban settings without the commensurate urban resources to solve 1-11 them, a criterion that would aptly describe the conditions that 1-12 were prevalent in Richmond when Reverend Lucas first arrived on the 1-13 scene; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church is located on 1-15 the north side of Richmond and has long served as the black 1-16 community's social, religious, and educational center; in spite of 1-17 the proximity of this thriving congregation, the surrounding area 1-18 had fallen into disrepair and become neglected, causing tremendous 1-19 apathy on the part of area citizens; and 1-20 WHEREAS, When Reverend Lucas was called to the pastorate of 1-21 Mount Carmel in 1992, he concluded that the church needed to take 1-22 charge of its community and address the many serious issues 1-23 affecting the lives of area residents, and he accepted this 1-24 significant challenge with characteristic enthusiasm and 2-1 determination; and 2-2 WHEREAS, This fine gentleman learned the value of hard work 2-3 from an early age; he was one of 12 children reared on a farm in 2-4 rural Louisiana and, at age 10, moved with his family to Las Vegas, 2-5 where his mother found employment after the passing of her husband; 2-6 and 2-7 WHEREAS, Reverend Lucas was graduated from high school in Las 2-8 Vegas, the city where he met his future wife, Mary, and he earned 2-9 his bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Nevada at 2-10 Las Vegas, which had awarded him a four-year scholarship; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Having worked for a number of years in the field 2-12 that he chose only because of the availability of a scholarship, 2-13 Reverend Lucas decided it was time for a new direction in his life 2-14 and went into the ministry, starting a church in Missouri City; and 2-15 WHEREAS, After seven years, he was called to Mount Carmel, 2-16 beginning what would prove to be an exceptionally vibrant and 2-17 rewarding period of progress for both the church and the 2-18 surrounding community; since his arrival, more than $1 million in 2-19 federal funds have been put to good use in north Richmond to 2-20 improve housing, remove substandard housing, and provide for new 2-21 drainage; and 2-22 WHEREAS, The church has met with representatives of the Lamar 2-23 Consolidated Independent School District concerning minority 2-24 teachers and school facilities in the neighborhood and has 2-25 addressed various levels of local government seeking improvements 2-26 to area streets and lighting; and 2-27 WHEREAS, Other worthy projects that have succeeded as a 3-1 result of Reverend Lucas's leadership include the establishment of 3-2 a computer learning center in the neighborhood, the funding of 3-3 prevention programs by an $818,000 grant from the Texas Commission 3-4 on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the organization of a neighborhood watch 3-5 program, and the provision of an annual meal held by the church for 3-6 more than 500 people in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, 3-7 Jr.'s, birthday; and 3-8 WHEREAS, With sincerity and passion, Reverend Lucas has 3-9 inspired all who know him with his ability to organize people in a 3-10 manner that will make a positive difference in the lives of others; 3-11 his outstanding efforts have resulted in a new sense of pride among 3-12 the members of his congregation and community and truly merit our 3-13 highest praise and commendation; now, therefore, be it 3-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-15 Legislature hereby congratulate Reverend Curtis R. Lucas on being 3-16 named Small Community Minister of the Year and commend him for the 3-17 many significant contributions he has made to the betterment of his 3-18 community; and, be it further 3-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-20 prepared for Reverend Lucas as an expression of highest regard by 3-21 the Texas House of Representatives.