R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, On March 15 and 16, 1997, the Reverend Claude W.

 1-2     Black and his wife, ZerNona Black, were honored for their 48 years

 1-3     of outstanding service to Mount Zion First Baptist Church of San

 1-4     Antonio, and this special recognition was indeed well deserved; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Reverend Black was graduated from Morehouse College

 1-6     before completing his religious studies at Andover-Newton

 1-7     Theological Seminary in 1943; he has furthered his education at

 1-8     Trinity University and has been awarded honorary doctorates from

 1-9     both Huston-Tillotson College and Guadalupe College; and

1-10           WHEREAS, He began his service to the Lord in San Antonio by

1-11     spreading the gospel to street people at the Cameo Theater from

1-12     1943 to 1946, and he led the congregation of St. Matthews Baptist

1-13     Church in Corpus Christi before receiving the call to become pastor

1-14     of Mount Zion First Baptist Church in 1949, in which capacity he

1-15     has faithfully served his congregation for the past 48 years; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Highly regarded for his active ministry, he was a

1-17     leader in the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s and

1-18     has also chaired the Committee of Social Justice of the National

1-19     Baptist Convention of America; in addition, this eminent clergyman

1-20     has been involved in the National Association for the Advancement

1-21     of Colored People, the Network for Congregational Development, and

1-22     the San Antonio Mothers' Service Organization; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Reverend Black has further worked for the betterment

1-24     of his community as a public official; he was a member of the San

 2-1     Antonio City Council from 1973 to 1977, during which time he also

 2-2     served as the city's first black mayor pro tem, and he has offered

 2-3     wise and thoughtful guidance as a former commissioner of the San

 2-4     Antonio Development Agency as well; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Reverend Black's wife, ZerNona, has been active in

 2-6     the community as a former teacher and a saleswoman, and her

 2-7     participation with the Senior Opportunity Service Center and the

 2-8     Senior Day Care Program, which is now Health, Inc., has helped to

 2-9     enhance the lives of many individuals; and

2-10           WHEREAS, Throughout their exemplary tenure, Reverend and

2-11     Mrs. Black have dedicated themselves to promoting hope and

2-12     understanding in their congregation and community, and they are

2-13     indeed worthy of special commendation on this momentous occasion;

2-14     now, therefore, be it

2-15           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-16     Legislature hereby honor the Reverend Claude W. Black and ZerNona

2-17     Black for 48 years of devoted service to the members of Mount Zion

2-18     First Baptist Church and extend to the Blacks sincere best wishes

2-19     for continued fulfillment in the years to come; and, be it further

2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-21     prepared for Reverend and Mrs. Black as an expression of high

2-22     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                   McClendon

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 514 was adopted by the House on April

         18, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House