By Giddings H.R. No. 191 74R4762 PFG-D 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.