By Dutton                                              H.R. No. 459
         77R8552 MMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Dr. Marion George Ford, Jr., of
 1-2     Houston on February 20, 2001, brought a profound sense of loss to
 1-3     the family and friends of this beloved gentleman; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born August 22, 1937, in Houston, Dr. Ford graduated
 1-5     from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a
 1-6     bachelor's degree in chemical engineering; four years later, he
 1-7     became the first African American to earn a degree from The
 1-8     University of Texas--Houston Dental Branch; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Over the ensuing years, Dr. Ford's passionate
1-10     engagement in life and devotion to service, coupled with a
1-11     gregarious personality, a wry sense of humor, and a boundless
1-12     charm, led him down varied paths and won him friends around the
1-13     world; and
1-14           WHEREAS, He received several fellowships to study and teach
1-15     dentistry in Germany, established dental clinics in Africa as a
1-16     Peace Corps volunteer, and advised the Indonesian and Tanzanian
1-17     governments on the development of dental facilities; and
1-18           WHEREAS, While Dr. Ford loved the practice of dentistry and
1-19     oral surgery, his talents spilled over into many other areas; known
1-20     fondly as "The Dancin' Doc," he was also a linguist, writer, public
1-21     speaker, and respected community leader who played a significant
1-22     role in mediating racial tensions in Houston during the 1970s; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Dissolving the boundaries of color, nationality,
1-24     religious creed, and social status became the overarching theme of
 2-1     this extraordinary man's life, and his profound humanity touched
 2-2     and enriched all those who were privileged to know him; now,
 2-3     therefore, be it
 2-4           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-5     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Marion George
 2-6     Ford, Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his
 2-7     family:  to his wife, Diana Lynn Thibault-Ford; to his children,
 2-8     Dr. Inge Ford, Erika Ford Johnson and her husband, Selby Johnson,
 2-9     and Marion George Ford III; to his father, Marion George Ford, Sr.;
2-10     to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and to his other
2-11     relatives and many friends; and, be it further
2-12           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-13     prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
2-14     Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Marion
2-15     George Ford, Jr.