1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 624

 1-3           WHEREAS, Walter L. Sutton, Jr., was recently selected

 1-4     recipient of the 1997 Gertrude Rush Award, and the Texas Senate

 1-5     is pleased to recognize him; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Born in Marshall, Texas, to two educators, Dr. Sutton

 1-7     is the son of Sammie W. Sutton and Walter L. Sutton, Sr.; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, After receiving his bachelor's degree in business

 1-9     administration from the University of Denver, Dr. Sutton graduated

1-10     from the University of Michigan Law School in 1970, one of 15

1-11     African Americans in a graduating class of 300; and

1-12           WHEREAS, Returning to Texas in 1972, he accepted a position

1-13     with Texas Instruments as an attorney; he was the first African

1-14     American attorney with the company; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Throughout his 15-year career at Texas Instruments,

1-16     Dr. Sutton became an expert in environmental law and commercial

1-17     real estate; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Again recognizing the importance of education, he

1-19     received his master's degree in business administration from the

1-20     University of Dallas Graduate School of Management in 1976, and his

1-21     doctoral degree in management science from The University of Texas

1-22     at Dallas in 1989; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Having taught at colleges and universities in the

 2-1     Dallas area for over 20 years, Dr. Sutton became the first African

 2-2     American to join the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist

 2-3     University in 1989 and continues to serve as faculty advisor; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, A man seeking to give something back to his

 2-5     community, he has been a member of many boards, including the

 2-6     Museum of African American Life and Culture, the J. L. Turner

 2-7     Legal Society, the North Texas Legal Aid Society, and the Dallas

 2-8     Legal Services Foundation; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, Active in professional associations, Dr. Sutton

2-10     has served the National Bar Association in various capacities;

2-11     he has been Section Representative, Treasurer, Vice President,

2-12     President, and a member of the Board of Governors; Dr. Sutton is

2-13     a member of the Dallas and American bar associations and served

2-14     as a member of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas

2-15     from 1993 through 1996; and

2-16           WHEREAS, Becoming the first African American to serve as

2-17     Deputy Regional Counsel in the Dallas office of the United States

2-18     Environmental Protection Agency in 1993, he presently serves as

2-19     Acting Regional Counsel; and

2-20           WHEREAS, A proven leader who has selflessly devoted his

2-21     energies and talents to a wide range of worthwhile causes,

2-22     Dr. Sutton is certainly worthy of legislative recognition; now,

2-23     therefore, be it

2-24           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-25     75th Legislature, hereby extend congratulations to

 3-1     Dr. Walter L. Sutton, Jr., for his designation as 1997 Recipient

 3-2     of the Gertrude Rush Award; and, be it further

 3-3           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

 3-4     Dr. Sutton as an expression of the highest regard and esteem of

 3-5     the Texas Senate.

 3-6                                                                    West

 3-7                                  ______________________________________

 3-8                                          President of the Senate

 3-9                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-10                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-11                                  on May 1, 1997.

3-12                                  ______________________________________

3-13                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-14                                  ______________________________________

3-15                                           Member, Texas Senate