By Hodge H.R. No. 1301 75R17119 BNL-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The educational community lost an esteemed leader 1-2 and a true friend with the death of Dr. Lincoln Jay Harrison, Sr., 1-3 on May 23, 1997, at the age of 77, and the Texas House of 1-4 Representatives joins in mourning his passing; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A 1938 graduate of Southern University, he went on 1-6 to earn master's degrees at Atlanta University and the University 1-7 of Illinois and to become the first African-American certified 1-8 public accountant in Louisiana's history; in 1944 he embarked on 1-9 his illustrious 40-year career as a business educator, teaching at 1-10 five universities throughout the country; and 1-11 WHEREAS, While teaching at Ohio's Central State University, 1-12 he fell in love with Joyce Elizabeth Bledsoe, and the couple 1-13 married in 1949; this distinguished gentleman experienced a year 1-14 full of milestones in 1953, as he completed his doctorate at Ohio 1-15 State University and welcomed the birth of his first child, Lincoln 1-16 Jay Harrison, Jr.; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Seven years later, after Dr. Harrison had returned 1-18 to his undergraduate alma mater to accept a position as director of 1-19 the school's business college, he and his wife were blessed with 1-20 the birth of another son, Huelon Andrew Harrison; Dr. Harrison 1-21 remained at Southern University for the next two decades, serving 1-22 with distinction as dean of the business college and as system vice 1-23 president for finance before retiring in 1980; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Dr. Harrison worked throughout his career to achieve 2-1 greater ethnic diversity in the accounting field; the first 2-2 African-American member of the Louisiana Certified Public 2-3 Accountants, he went on to chair the minority recruitment committee 2-4 of the American Institute for CPAs, and he and a colleague, Reynard 2-5 J. Rochon, were jointly honored for their groundbreaking efforts 2-6 with the establishment of the Harrison-Rochon CPAs Education 2-7 Foundation, Inc., which will work to promote the entry of African 2-8 Americans and other minorities into the accounting profession; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Although his professional accomplishments were many, 2-10 Dr. Harrison continually credited the members of his family as the 2-11 source of his greatest happiness, and any remembrance of his life 2-12 would be incomplete without mentioning their special place in his 2-13 heart; Dr. Harrison's presence is sorely missed, but his unique 2-14 spirit will endure in the hearts of all who knew him; now, 2-15 therefore, be it 2-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-17 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Lincoln Jay Harrison, 2-18 Sr., and extend deepest sympathy to his family: to his beloved 2-19 wife, Joyce Bledsoe Harrison; to his sons, Lincoln J. Harrison, 2-20 Jr., and his wife Reva, and Huelon A. Harrison; to his grandsons, 2-21 Jay Fredrick Harrison and Julian Ray Harrison and his mother, 2-22 Felicia Pitre; to his brother, Elton C. Harrison; to his nephew, 2-23 Elton C. Harrison III and his wife Nola; and to all the relatives 2-24 and friends of this eminent individual; and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-26 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 2-27 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-1 Lincoln J. Harrison, Sr.