H.R. No. 607
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The city of Houston and the State of Texas have
1-2 suffered a great loss with the untimely passing of William Arnold
1-3 "Bill" Scott on April 4, 1995, at the age of 46; and
1-4 WHEREAS, An esteemed educator who taught at the University of
1-5 Houston's Graduate School of Social Work, Mr. Scott was the author
1-6 of countless scholarly papers and articles and was a much
1-7 sought-after lecturer in his field; a graduate of Mercy College in
1-8 New York, he earned his master's degree in social work at State
1-9 University of New York in 1977 and was a board-certified diplomate
1-10 in clinical social work; and
1-11 WHEREAS, This preeminent citizen also had a successful
1-12 private practice in psychotherapy at the New Counseling Center in
1-13 Houston and was active in many professional associations, including
1-14 the Houston Group Psychotherapy Society, the U.S./Mexico Border
1-15 Health Association, and the National Association of Social Workers;
1-16 and
1-17 WHEREAS, Above all else, Mr. Scott will be best remembered as
1-18 one of our state's most articulate and compassionate advocates in
1-19 the fight against acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); a
1-20 board member of the AIDS Equity League and the cofounder and
1-21 clinical director of the Houston Institute of the Protection of
1-22 Youth, this exceptional individual founded and was a former board
1-23 member of Houston's Body Positive and was a cofounder and past
1-24 board member of AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc.; and
2-1 WHEREAS, The founder and clinical director of the Montrose
2-2 Counseling Center, Mr. Scott also served as a board member of this
2-3 important institution, and was a board member and past president of
2-4 the National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation; he also was a
2-5 member of the National Association of Social Workers Houston Task
2-6 Force on AIDS; and
2-7 WHEREAS, This extraordinary civic leader was recognized
2-8 throughout the state and across the nation as an authority on AIDS
2-9 and its effects on families and communities, and in 1986 was
2-10 appointed by Mayor Kathryn Whitmire to serve on Houston's Task
2-11 Force on AIDS; five years later, Mr. Scott brought his extensive
2-12 expertise to the state level, serving as a member of the Texas
2-13 Board of Health and Texas Task Force on Human Resources, and in
2-14 1993 helped to create and develop the State of Texas AIDS
2-15 Inter-Agency Coordinating Council; and
2-16 WHEREAS, In recognition for his countless contributions
2-17 toward promoting AIDS education, research, and counseling, the city
2-18 of Houston celebrated Bill Scott Day in 1985; this fine Texan was
2-19 named Social Worker of the Year by the Houston chapter of the
2-20 National Association of Social Workers in 1988 and, in March of
2-21 this year, received the Texas Human Rights Foundation's lifetime
2-22 achievement award; and
2-23 WHEREAS, Those who had the good fortune of knowing Mr. Scott
2-24 will not quickly forget the courage, compassion, and humor he
2-25 brought to each facet of his life, and although his presence is
2-26 gone from us now, he has left a legacy that will make our state a
2-27 better place for all Texans, and his memory will continue to live
3-1 on in the hearts of all those whose lives he touched during his
3-2 years on this earth; now, therefore, be it
3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-4 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of William Arnold "Bill"
3-5 Scott and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to
3-6 his life partner, Jose Rodriguez; to his mother, Stella Martha
3-7 Scott; to his brothers, Almon, Joseph, and Lawrence Scott; to his
3-8 nieces and nephews; and to his many other relatives, friends,
3-9 colleagues, and students; and, be it further
3-10 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
3-11 for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of
3-12 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of William
3-13 Arnold Scott.