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.