By Farrar H.R. No. 198 76R5756 GMW-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, February 17, 1999, marks the birthday of our 1-2 esteemed colleague, the Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., and it 1-3 gives the members of this chamber great pleasure to acknowledge him 1-4 on this auspicious occasion; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A native of Houston's Fifth Ward, Representative 1-6 Dutton is a proud graduate of Phillis Wheatley High School and 1-7 Texas Southern University, from which he earned a bachelor's degree 1-8 in accounting in 1966, and he was designated a distinguished 1-9 alumnus by that university; and 1-10 WHEREAS, This esteemed public servant also graduated from the 1-11 Thurgood Marshall School of Law and currently serves the university 1-12 as an adjunct professor; he operates a private legal practice in 1-13 Houston and is a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Houston 1-14 Bar Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the 1-15 American Trial Lawyers Association; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Representative Dutton's professional career has also 1-17 encompassed employment with Conoco, Inc., and service as the 1-18 president of Four Star Broadcasting; granted a license to construct 1-19 and operate an independent UHF television station in Houston in 1-20 1986, he later hosted the television show "Sunday Night Journal," 1-21 which featured guests of local and national interest; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Representative Dutton is now in his eighth term in 1-23 the Texas House of Representatives, which he currently serves as 1-24 co-chairman of the Joint Select Committee on Historically 2-1 Underutilized Businesses and as vice chairman of the Public 2-2 Education Committee and the House Democratic Caucus; in addition, 2-3 he is an esteemed member of the House Calendars Committee, the 2-4 House Committee on Civil Practices, the Select Committee on 2-5 Constitutional Revision, the Steering Committee for the House 2-6 Research Organization, the Legislative Study Group, the Legislative 2-7 Black Caucus, and the Harris County Delegation; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Representative Dutton's myriad legislative 2-9 accomplishments include successful sponsorship of Texas' first 2-10 statutory program for women-owned and minority-owned businesses and 2-11 initiatives addressing public education improvements and insurance 2-12 availability and affordability; his achievements have earned him 2-13 recognition as Legislator of the Year by the Forward Times 2-14 Newspaper, the Houston Police Officers Association, the Harris 2-15 County Deputy Sheriff's Association, and the Afro-American Deputy 2-16 Sheriff's Association; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Throughout his many years of legislative service, 2-18 Representative Dutton has played an active role in making this 2-19 state a better place in which to live, work, and raise a family, 2-20 and the occasion of his birthday provides a fitting opportunity to 2-21 honor him; now, therefore, be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-23 Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Harold V. Dutton, 2-24 Jr., on the joyous occasion of his birthday and extend to him 2-25 sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it 2-26 further 2-27 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-1 prepared for Representative Dutton as an expression of highest 3-2 regard by his colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives.