By McClendon H.R. No. 514 75R9681 SAJ-D 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.