R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor 1-2 the Reverend Dr. C. B. T. Smith for more than 44 years of 1-3 outstanding service as pastor of Dallas's Golden Gate Missionary 1-4 Baptist Church; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A native Texan, he received his bachelor's degree 1-6 from Bishop College and also attended Southwestern Theological 1-7 Seminary in Fort Worth; in addition, Reverend Smith has been 1-8 awarded honorary doctorates from both Guadalupe College and Union 1-9 Theological Seminary; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Reverend Smith preached his first sermon in 1946 at 1-11 New Light Missionary Baptist Church in San Antonio and went on to 1-12 minister at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church; in 1952, he 1-13 received the call to become pastor of Golden Gate Missionary 1-14 Baptist Church, and he continues to offer special comfort and 1-15 religious guidance to his congregation in that capacity today; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Under Reverend Smith's leadership, the church has 1-17 experienced an exceptionally vibrant and rewarding period of 1-18 growth, building a new house of worship, expanding the church 1-19 complex, and developing both a welfare program to feed those less 1-20 fortunate in the community and a highly acclaimed recovery program, 1-21 the Adult Rehabilitation Ministry; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Well regarded throughout the ministry, he has also 1-23 shared his faith with countless others by conducting revivals, and 1-24 as one of 10 ministers whose sermons are featured in the book 2-1 Bridge Over Troubled Waters, he has helped many more individuals to 2-2 center their lives around Jesus Christ; and 2-3 WHEREAS, This eminent clergyman has further served the 2-4 members of his religious community in leadership capacities with 2-5 the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., the North Texas 2-6 District Sunday School and Training Union Congress, and the 2-7 Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas; and 2-8 WHEREAS, A man of immense vision and compassion, Reverend 2-9 Smith has continued to work for the betterment of his community as 2-10 a member of both the Board of the Greater Dallas Council of 2-11 Churches and the Ecumenical Worship Committee for Racial Harmony; 2-12 and 2-13 WHEREAS, His remarkable efforts in behalf of others have 2-14 earned him well-deserved acclaim, for he has been honored with the 2-15 Outstanding Texas Award by the Legislative Black Caucus and was 2-16 recently named A Living Legend of the Clergy by the Bank of America 2-17 and the King Group of Dallas; in all his endeavors, he has enjoyed 2-18 the love and support of his devoted wife of 53 years, Rosie Lee 2-19 Hartfield Smith; and 2-20 WHEREAS, In Reverend Smith, the church has found both a 2-21 preacher and a stalwart friend for the work of the ministry; his 2-22 religious guidance has provided moral leadership and spiritual 2-23 support to countless individuals, and he is indeed worthy of our 2-24 highest praise and recognition as he celebrates more than four 2-25 decades of service to his church; now, therefore, be it 2-26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-27 Legislature hereby honor the Reverend Dr. C. B. T. Smith for his 3-1 exceptional contributions as pastor of Golden Gate Missionary 3-2 Baptist Church and extend to him warmest best wishes for continued 3-3 success and fulfillment in all his future endeavors; and, be it 3-4 further 3-5 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-6 prepared for Reverend Smith as an expression of high regard by the 3-7 Texas House of Representatives. Jones of Dallas Davis Giddings Hodge _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 583 was adopted by the House on April 9, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House