By Davis                                               H.R. No. 746

         75R12838 WMS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Moorland YMCA in Dallas is holding its first

 1-2     annual gala on May 17, 1997, at the Renaissance Hotel, and this

 1-3     significant event truly merits special recognition; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Organized in 1926 as a branch of the YMCA of

 1-5     Metropolitan Dallas, the Moorland YMCA was founded to extend the

 1-6     advantages of a local YMCA to members of the African-American

 1-7     community; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, Among those prominent individuals who participated

 1-9     in the organization's founding were Dr. Joseph J. Rhoads, Dr. J. W.

1-10     Anderson and his wife Pearl C. Anderson, Dr. L. G. Pinkston, J.

1-11     Leslie Patton, Sr., Judge George L. Allen, and A. Maceo Smith; and

1-12           WHEREAS, The Moorland branch was named for the Reverend Jesse

1-13     Edward Moorland, the eloquent and dynamic African-American leader

1-14     who served as the secretary of the "Colored Men's Department" of

1-15     the YMCA during a period of tremendous growth and progress; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Originally located on Flora Street where the

1-17     structure still stands today, the Moorland YMCA has since relocated

1-18     to Ledbetter Drive in Southwest Oak Cliff, and the current facility

1-19     boasts such diverse amenities as a gymnasium, a sauna, a swimming

1-20     pool, exercise rooms, two tennis courts, baseball and football

1-21     fields, picnic areas, and game and conference rooms; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Under the visionary leadership of George Coleman,

1-23     who has served as the branch's executive director for the past two

1-24     decades, the Moorland YMCA has achieved outstanding success and is

 2-1     a source of tremendous pride to the community; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, For more than 70 years, the Moorland YMCA has helped

 2-3     to provide a positive environment for area residents to develop

 2-4     themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually, and it is indeed

 2-5     appropriate that it be given special legislative recognition at

 2-6     this time; now, therefore, be it

 2-7           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-8     Legislature hereby commend the Moorland YMCA for its significant

 2-9     contributions to the community on the occasion of the

2-10     organization's first annual gala and extend to the gala's

2-11     organizers and participants sincere best wishes for a memorable

2-12     event; and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-14     prepared for the Moorland YMCA as an expression of high regard by

2-15     the Texas House of Representatives.