By Dutton                                              H.R. No. 155
         77R4799 MW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Richie Dell Thomas of Houston on
 1-2     January 14, 2001, at the age of 78, has brought a great loss to the
 1-3     family and friends of this esteemed woman; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born on October 4, 1922, Ms. Thomas was a gifted
 1-5     child who graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School at the age of
 1-6     14; she received her bachelor of arts degree in music education at
 1-7     Prairie View A&M University and obtained her master's degree in
 1-8     music at Texas Southern University; a lifelong student who
 1-9     furthered her education at every opportunity, Ms. Thomas worked
1-10     toward a doctorate at the University of Southern California; and
1-11           WHEREAS, This remarkable woman pursued a career in music in
1-12     Los Angeles, where performing greats such as Dinah Washington and
1-13     Nat King Cole recognized her  potential and embraced her talent;
1-14     after getting to know and work with Charles Brown, she joined the
1-15     musicians' union and got her first big break when she was selected
1-16     to play piano in the show Sweet & Hot with Dorothy Dandridge; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Establishing herself as a successful musician, she
1-18     performed as a pianist for five years at the legendary Ivie's
1-19     Chicken Shack while continuing to work with such masters as Nat
1-20     King Cole; she possessed a unique talent for energizing jazz
1-21     interpretations on the piano while complementing great vocalists,
1-22     including Arthur Prysock, Dakota Staton, and Dinah Washington; and
1-23           WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan returned to Houston and
1-24     began teaching music at Aldine Carver High School and later at
 2-1     Fidelity High School; she imparted her musical passion to her
 2-2     students, and over the years her choirs received many honors and
 2-3     awards; she also published a collected works album titled The Best
 2-4     of Fidelity, 1958-1968 and even helped to launch some noteworthy
 2-5     careers, such as that of guitarist Melvin Sparks; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, No one benefited more from Ms. Thomas' influence
 2-7     than her own children; under her direction, her three children
 2-8     formed the Thomas Trio, which met with great success while touring
 2-9     the United States for 10 years in a career that included
2-10     performances on Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour and at the Apollo
2-11     Theater; afterward, all of her children went on to have notable
2-12     musical careers; and
2-13           WHEREAS, A believer in having a strong spiritual life,
2-14     Ms. Thomas founded the Unity Center of Truth Church in her
2-15     community; she was musical director for the church, and, reflecting
2-16     her immense faith, she became an ordained minister; and
2-17           WHEREAS, This accomplished and giving Texan contributed much
2-18     to the musical world and left an indelible mark on her community,
2-19     and she will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of those she so
2-20     deeply affected; now, therefore, be it
2-21           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-22     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Richie Dell Thomas
2-23     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family:  to her
2-24     daughters, Fanchon Angela Moore and Anita Gwendolyn Moore; and to
2-25     all her relatives, friends, and loved ones; and, be it further
2-26           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-27     prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
 3-1     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
 3-2     Richie Dell Thomas.