H.R. No. 191
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Dallas attorney DeMetris Aquilla Sampson has
1-2 provided outstanding leadership as chair of the Alcohol Related
1-3 Businesses Task Force; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Under Ms. Sampson's adept guidance, the task force
1-5 has responded with swift action to concerns voiced by the local
1-6 community about the close proximity of several liquor stores to
1-7 Pearl C. Anderson Middle School, a fact that causes understandable
1-8 worry to the parents of the children enrolled there; and
1-9 WHEREAS, A partner in the eminent firm of Blair, Goggan,
1-10 Sampson & Meeks, Ms. Sampson has for years shared her considerable
1-11 abilities as an informed voice on task forces examining issues of
1-12 import to the legal profession and the community at large and has
1-13 played a critical role on the city's Domestic Violence Task Force
1-14 since 1987; and
1-15 WHEREAS, Before beginning her most recent position in private
1-16 practice, this knowledgeable tax attorney presided over the complex
1-17 legal affairs of urban areas with enviable skill as an assistant
1-18 city attorney in San Antonio and as an assistant district attorney
1-19 in Dallas County; she has been admitted to practice before several
1-20 federal courts, including the U.S. District Court (Northern
1-21 District), the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S.
1-22 Tax Court; and
1-23 WHEREAS, Ms. Sampson has drawn on her solid background to
1-24 contribute her time and energy in the past as a board member of
2-1 several prominent Dallas-area organizations, including the Dallas
2-2 Area Rapid Transit Board, the North Central Texas Legal Services
2-3 Foundation, and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre; and
2-4 WHEREAS, Highly regarded for her legal acumen, she has shared
2-5 her expertise at the state level as the chief counsel to the House
2-6 Committee on Judicial Affairs; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Appointed to the Board of Regents of East Texas
2-8 State University in 1991 by Governor Ann Richards, Ms. Sampson has
2-9 long demonstrated her commitment to the cause of education in this
2-10 state; she has chaired the scholarship committee of the J. L.
2-11 Turner Legal Association for eight years and has served as the
2-12 attorney advisor for the Roosevelt High School Mock Trial Team,
2-13 where she is a popular and capable mentor; and
2-14 WHEREAS, She has received numerous well-deserved accolades
2-15 for her accomplishments in the professional and civic arenas during
2-16 her extraordinary career, including recognition from the Thurgood
2-17 Marshall Legal Society of The University of Texas School of Law; a
2-18 member of several notable legal associations as well, she recently
2-19 completed a distinguished term as president of the Dallas
2-20 Association of Black Women Attorneys; and
2-21 WHEREAS, This accomplished professional is a 1977 graduate of
2-22 The University of Texas at Austin, where she also earned her juris
2-23 doctor degree; in addition, Ms. Sampson holds a Masters of Laws
2-24 degree in taxation from Southern Methodist University; and
2-25 WHEREAS, In her recent role as the chair of the Alcohol
2-26 Related Businesses Task Force, DeMetris Sampson has continued to
2-27 compile an impressive record of achievement and earn the admiration
3-1 of her peers for her willingness to take the lead in finding a
3-2 workable solution to a serious problem; in light of her many
3-3 contributions to the benefit of her community, she is indeed
3-4 deserving of special legislative recognition for her continuing
3-5 efforts in this regard; now, therefore, be it
3-6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-7 Legislature hereby honor DeMetris Aquilla Sampson for her exemplary
3-8 service as chair of the Alcohol Related Businesses Task Force and
3-9 commend her for her longstanding record of community service; and,
3-10 be it further
3-11 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-12 prepared for Ms. Sampson as an expression of high regard by the
3-13 Texas House of Representatives.