By:  Ellis                                             S.R. No. 488
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
    1-3  recognize Maggie Allen for her selfless contributions to the
    1-4  citizens of Houston; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, This indomitable woman is an excellent example of
    1-6  what the National Urban League says is a growing trend--black
    1-7  people helping their own by fighting poverty, crime, and
    1-8  unemployment; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, She works as a barber, and in her spare time, she
   1-10  operates a mission; last year Charity of the Three Fishermen was
   1-11  able to assist about 250 families; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Following a lifelong interest in helping people,
   1-13  she dispersed about $10,000 last year; that money comes from her
   1-14  own pocket and a regular group of supporters, including several
   1-15  black-owned businesses; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Sister Maggie has two partners who work with her
   1-17  to give away food baskets and clothing and help the poor pay their
   1-18  living expenses; the mission also has helped several Texas Southern
   1-19  University students from poor families buy books and pay rent; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, The idea for Charity of the Three Fishermen evolved
   1-21  out of church mission work that Ms. Allen began about 36 years ago;
   1-22  an evangelist at Houston's Williams Temple Church of God in Christ,
   1-23  she says she would give away her own money to help the needy; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, A woman of ingenuity and determination, she decided
    2-2  one day to learn to raise funds; she started by making cakes and
    2-3  cookies which she sold outside a grocery store in the Third Ward
    2-4  in Houston; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Ms. Allen, the third of six children, took her
    2-6  first job washing clothes on a scrub board when she was about
    2-7  eight years old; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, She paid her way through barber school working
    2-9  as a cook at night; she has spent the last 27 years perfecting
   2-10  her craft at a barbershop near Texas Southern University; this
   2-11  outstanding lady is certainly worthy of legislative recognition;
   2-12  now, therefore, be it
   2-13        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-14  74th Legislature, hereby congratulate Maggie Allen for her
   2-15  devotion to her work with the poor and applaud her continuing
   2-16  efforts; and, be it further
   2-17        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her
   2-18  as an expression of the highest esteem of the Texas Senate.
   2-19                               ______________________________________
   2-20                                       President of the Senate
   2-21                                    I hereby certify that the above
   2-22                               Resolution was adopted by the Senate
   2-23                               on March 21, 1995.
   2-24                               ______________________________________
   2-25                                       Secretary of the Senate
    3-1                               ______________________________________
    3-2                                        Member, Texas Senate