By: Madla S.R. No. 93 1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-3 WHEREAS, Joyce Sowells is being inducted into the 1997 1-4 Counting My Blessings Hall of Fame of the Century, and the 1-5 Texas Senate is proud to recognize her; and 1-6 WHEREAS, A native of San Antonio, she is the daughter 1-7 of Mrs. Helena Cuffins and the late Joe Dawson; and 1-8 WHEREAS, A 1942 graduate of Phyliss Wheatley High School, 1-9 Mrs. Sowells graduated from Southern University of Baton Rouge, 1-10 Louisiana, with a bachelor of science degree; later Mrs. Sowells 1-11 earned her master of education degree in health and physical 1-12 education and furthered her postgraduate studies at several 1-13 prestigious universities; and 1-14 WHEREAS, A woman who has spent years in the educational 1-15 field, Mrs. Sowells has been president, vice president, and 1-16 secretary of the Alamo City Teachers Association, Secretary for 1-17 Bexar County Teachers Credit Union, and a member of the Area I 1-18 Administrators Advisory Board; and 1-19 WHEREAS, With a desire to give back to her community, she 1-20 has been a board member of the Beautify San Antonio Association, 1-21 served on the Martin Luther King Commission for the City-Education 1-22 Committee, and was active with the Friends of the Library-Carver 1-23 Branch; and 2-1 WHEREAS, An honorary life member of the Texas Congress of 2-2 PTA, Joyce Sowells is a life member of the National Education 2-3 Association, and she won the 1959 Community Award in Education 2-4 of the Alamo Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association and 2-5 Alamo Chamber of Commerce; and 2-6 WHEREAS, A winner of the Education Award of Delta Sigma Theta 2-7 Sorority, she won the 1986 Living Legacy Award in Education 2-8 from the Alamo City Chamber of Commerce, is a life member of 2-9 the National Councils of Negro Women, is a golden life member 2-10 of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, was inducted into the San Antonio 2-11 Women's Hall of Fame in 1987, was awarded the 1995 San Antonio 2-12 Black Achievement Award in Education for Commitment to Excellence, 2-13 and in 1996 was one of 87 women honored in Texas by the National 2-14 Council of Negro Women in their Tribute to Black Women Community 2-15 Leaders; and 2-16 WHEREAS, A devout Christian, Joyce Sowells is a member of 2-17 Saint Philip's Episcopal Church; she is president of the Women of 2-18 Saint Philip's Episcopal Church and a member of the Saint Philip's 2-19 Episcopal Church Women's Choir; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-21 75th Legislature, hereby commend Joyce Sowells on her induction 2-22 into the 1997 Counting My Blessings Hall of Fame of the Century 2-23 and extend to her best wishes for the future; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-25 her as an expression of the high regard of the Texas Senate. 3-1 ______________________________________ 3-2 President of the Senate 3-3 I hereby certify that the above 3-4 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-5 on January 30, 1997. 3-6 ______________________________________ 3-7 Secretary of the Senate 3-8 ______________________________________ 3-9 Member, Texas Senate