H.R. No. 732
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Reverend John William Bowie has provided
    1-2  exceptional spiritual leadership and guidance to worshipers at True
    1-3  Light Baptist Church in Houston, and April 1995 marks the second
    1-4  anniversary of his installation as pastor there; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, A graduate of Phillis Wheatley High School, this
    1-6  inspirational individual pursued his higher education at Texas
    1-7  Southern University, where he attained his bachelor's degree, and
    1-8  at the University of Colorado, where he earned his master's degree
    1-9  in education; he also undertook a rigorous course of religious
   1-10  studies at Baptist Bible College and Rockmount Bible College; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Before answering his call to the ministry, Reverend
   1-12  Bowie served the educational needs of his community as an exemplary
   1-13  public school teacher and as a principal at the elementary and
   1-14  secondary school levels; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Reverend Bowie pastored at Good Shepherd Baptist
   1-16  Church in Denver, Colorado, and Calvary Baptist Church in Los
   1-17  Angeles, California, before returning to True Light Baptist Church
   1-18  in April 1993 to become the congregation's pastor; True Light holds
   1-19  special significance to Reverend Bowie not only as the church of
   1-20  his youth but as the house of worship where his father, Dr. William
   1-21  Bowie, Jr., pastored for 54 years and is now the pastor emeritus;
   1-22  and
   1-23        WHEREAS, In addition to his duties as pastor, Reverend Bowie
   1-24  also renders significant service to the religious community as
    2-1  president of the Independent Heights Crusade for Christ and of
    2-2  Metropolitan One Church, One Child of Texas, Inc., and as chairman
    2-3  for political affairs of the Houston Metropolitan Baptist Ministers
    2-4  Conference; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, He has been consistently supported in his calling by
    2-6  his devoted wife, Thelma Louise Bowie, by his daughter and
    2-7  son-in-law, Carmen and George Bandy, and by his son, John Bowie II;
    2-8  and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Reverend Bowie's dynamic preaching and unshakable
   2-10  faith have been a tremendous source of inspiration and comfort to
   2-11  the members of True Light Baptist Church, and his notable
   2-12  achievements in this regard are truly worthy of special legislative
   2-13  recognition; now, therefore, be it
   2-14        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-15  Legislature hereby congratulate the Reverend John William Bowie for
   2-16  his outstanding spiritual leadership on his second pastoral
   2-17  anniversary at True Light Baptist Church and extend sincere best
   2-18  wishes to him for continued success in the future; and, be it
   2-19  further
   2-20        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-21  prepared for Reverend Bowie as an expression of high regard by the
   2-22  Texas House of Representatives.