By Gray H.R. No. 75 77R4253 JKB-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The recent passing of June Pickney Ross of Galveston 1-2 on January 5, 2001, at the age of 79 has brought a great loss to 1-3 all those who knew and loved this esteemed woman; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Ms. Ross was born in Washington, D.C., and attended 1-5 Howard University before serving with the Women's Air Corps, from 1-6 which she earned an honorable discharge as a sergeant major; she 1-7 spent several years as a statistician with the Bureau of Labor 1-8 Statistics and in 1953 moved to the Lone Star State; and 1-9 WHEREAS, After arriving in Texas, she made a name for herself 1-10 in the Houston area as "Hattie Holmes" on the radio station KCOH, 1-11 after which she began a remarkable career in public service; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The executive director of the Galveston County 1-13 Community Action Council since 1973, Ms. Ross greatly benefited the 1-14 community through her work, helping to bring to fruition a host of 1-15 visionary initiatives, including the Senior Citizen's Centers in 1-16 Hitchcock and La Marque, transportation services for seniors 1-17 throughout the county, the Meals-on-Wheels program, a 1-18 rehabilitation facility for substance abusers, the Children's 1-19 Olympics, the Children's Summer Feeding Program, and a Senior 1-20 Citizen's Day; and 1-21 WHEREAS, She was a former president of the Texas Association 1-22 of Community Action Agencies and vice president and treasurer of 1-23 the national branch, and she left a legacy of hard work and 1-24 perseverance that will long be remembered by her colleagues and 2-1 peers; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Dedicated to helping the less fortunate, Ms. Ross 2-3 gave generously of her time and talents to the United Way, the 2-4 Emergency Management Advisory Commission, the Galveston Partnership 2-5 for Better Living, and the Mayor's Drug Task Force; moreover, she 2-6 was actively involved with numerous programs benefiting senior 2-7 citizens, children, and the Galveston Independent School District; 2-8 and 2-9 WHEREAS, This civic-minded woman was honored by the Texas 2-10 Department of Housing and Community Affairs with its Community 2-11 Action Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999; her commendable efforts 2-12 were also recognized with the prestigious Rabbi Henry Cohen 2-13 Humanitarian Award the following year; and 2-14 WHEREAS, June Pickney Ross was a courageous woman and an 2-15 exemplary community leader, and although she will be greatly missed 2-16 by all who knew her, her spirit will live on in the hearts and 2-17 minds of the many people whose lives she touched; now, therefore, 2-18 be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of June Pickney Ross and 2-21 extend sincere sympathy to her godchildren: Gus Thomas, Jennifer 2-22 Irene Morris, Rachael Pena, Dawn Thomas, and Darlene Dezon; to her 2-23 staff at the Galveston County Community Action Council; and to her 2-24 many close friends; and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-26 prepared for the Galveston County Community Action Council and her 2-27 godchildren, and that when the Texas House of Representatives 3-1 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of June Pickney Ross.