By Tillery H.R. No. 303
76R6663 GMW-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Every collector of United States paper money must
1-2 surely prize Series 1977 and 1977A Federal Reserve notes bearing
1-3 the signature of Treasurer Azie Taylor Morton, for Ms. Morton is an
1-4 individual of great courage, perseverance, and intelligence and a
1-5 role model to us all; and
1-6 WHEREAS, A native Texan, Ms. Morton was born February 1,
1-7 1936, in Dale, where she graduated from high school at the age of
1-8 16; after earning a bachelor of science degree from
1-9 Huston-Tillotson College in 1956 she became a teacher at the State
1-10 School for Delinquent Girls in Crockett; and
1-11 WHEREAS, In 1957 she returned to her alma mater as assistant
1-12 to the president at Huston-Tillotson College and the following year
1-13 joined the Texas American Federation of Labor and Congress of
1-14 Industrial Organizations; Ms. Morton moved to Washington, D.C., in
1-15 1961 and worked for two years as assistant to the executive
1-16 director of President John F. Kennedy's Committee on Equal
1-17 Employment Opportunity before applying her expertise to the
1-18 President's Committee on Equal Opportunity in Housing; and
1-19 WHEREAS, The next 11 years of her distinguished public
1-20 service included positions as a complaint investigator for the
1-21 United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Austin
1-22 from 1966 to 1968; as director of social services for the Model
1-23 Cities Program in Wichita, Kansas, from 1968 to 1971; with the
1-24 Democratic National Committee from 1971 to 1977 in such varied
2-1 capacities as assistant director of the Office of Minority Affairs,
2-2 member of the Compliance Commission, and vice chair of the
2-3 Arrangements Committee; as deputy conference manager for the
2-4 Democratic Conference on Party Organization and Policy in 1974; and
2-5 as deputy convention manager for the Democratic National Convention
2-6 in 1976; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Ms. Morton was appointed as a consultant to the
2-8 United States House of Representatives Committee on the District of
2-9 Columbia in 1977; President Jimmy Carter then named her as the
2-10 United States treasurer, and when she was sworn in on September 12,
2-11 1977, she became the 36th person and the first African-American
2-12 woman to be appointed to that prestigious post; and
2-13 WHEREAS, Other positions that she has held throughout her
2-14 career include commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and
2-15 Industry, owner and operator of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers
2-16 franchises, director and resource coordinator for Reading is
2-17 Fundamental, and director of marketing for GRW Capital Corporation;
2-18 and
2-19 WHEREAS, In addition to sitting on the corporate boards of
2-20 Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers from 1981 to 1984, Citizens Trust
2-21 from 1992 to present, and Schlotzsky's Deli from 1995 to present,
2-22 she has served on the public interest boards of Friends of the
2-23 Colorado River Foundation, Earl Campbell Foundation, St. Edwards
2-24 University, National Democratic Institute, and Africare; and
2-25 WHEREAS, Ms. Morton is a deeply respected woman of immense
2-26 talent, compassion, and integrity and it is indeed fitting to pay
2-27 tribute to her at this time; now, therefore, be it
3-1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
3-2 Legislature hereby honor Azie Taylor Morton for her many years of
3-3 dedicated public service and extend to her sincere best wishes for
3-4 continued success and happiness; and, be it further
3-5 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-6 prepared for Ms. Morton as an expression of high regard by the
3-7 Texas House of Representatives.