1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 623

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in

 1-4     recognizing Dr. Willie Eugene Harris, Sr., an outstanding citizen

 1-5     of our state, on his many contributions to the Dallas community;

 1-6     and

 1-7           WHEREAS, A minister, author, artist, and musician,

 1-8     Dr. Willie Harris holds degrees from Washington University, Western

 1-9     Baptist Seminary, Hampton University, and Florissant Valley College;

1-10     he serves as an associate minister at Mount Sinai Baptist Church in

1-11     Dallas; and

1-12           WHEREAS, Dr. Harris has pastored for 26 years in Missouri,

1-13     California, and Texas; he also pastored in Germany; for the last 14

1-14     years, he has given generously of his time and energy to improving

1-15     the quality of life for African-Americans in the City of Dallas; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Dr. Harris was actively involved with the Civil

1-17     Rights Movement during the time of its leadership under

1-18     Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; he has continued to work untiringly on

1-19     behalf of African-Americans through his membership in the National

1-20     Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Black Chamber

1-21     of Commerce, and the Black State Employees Association of Texas; and

1-22           WHEREAS, A man of many talents and interests, Dr. Harris

1-23     received a Gold Record Award for the song he wrote in 1968, "I

 2-1     Have A Dream," which is featured in the PBS documentary film, "In

 2-2     Remembrance of Martin"; he also wrote the music for the song,

 2-3     "Congratulations America"; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, He is the president of Celebrity Art Productions

 2-5     and is the author of Five Steps to A Successful Marriage and the

 2-6     upcoming book, The Plantation Mentality; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, Accolades for Dr. Harris' dedication and hard work

 2-8     include the Sigma Gamma Rho Award, the Dallas Post Tribune Citizen

 2-9     of the Year Award, and the Saint Louis Argus Newspaper Award; and

2-10           WHEREAS, An exemplary and distinguished gentleman,

2-11     Dr. Willie Harris deserves recognition for his many accomplishments

2-12     and his exceptional work on behalf of African-Americans and the

2-13     field of civil rights; now, therefore, be it

2-14           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-15     75th Legislature, hereby commend Dr. Willie Harris on his

2-16     outstanding leadership, talent, and hard work and on his many

2-17     contributions to the City of Dallas and to the African-American

2-18     communities of this country; and, be it further

2-19           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

2-20     Dr. Harris as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

2-21                                                                    West

2-22                                  ______________________________________

2-23                                          President of the Senate

2-24                                       I hereby certify that the above

2-25                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

2-26                                  on May 1, 1997.

2-27                                  ______________________________________

2-28                                          Secretary of the Senate

2-29                                  ______________________________________

 3-1                                           Member, Texas Senate