1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1194
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure in
 1-4     recognizing Ben Thomas for his many contributions as a neighborhood
 1-5     leader to the City of Plano; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Ben Thomas is well known for his outstanding work
 1-7     in the Douglass Community, and he was recently honored when the
 1-8     City of Plano proclaimed a Ben Thomas Day on the occasion of the
 1-9     grand opening of the Thomas Gymnasium; and
1-10           WHEREAS, A gifted leader and community volunteer, Ben Thomas
1-11     is a lifelong Douglass Community resident who never gave up on
1-12     his efforts to improve the area, and the community is now reaping
1-13     the benefits of his work; and
1-14           WHEREAS, The Douglass Community was originally settled on the
1-15     outskirts of Plano and was inhabited by ex-slaves who worked in
1-16     the fields; as Plano grew, Douglass became a neglected inner-city
1-17     neighborhood that had no sewers and only one water line; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Ben's father was J. L. Thomas, the city's most
1-19     successful black entrepreneur, who was called Plano's poorest
1-20     philanthropist because he spent his money feeding the hungry;
1-21     following in his father's footsteps, Ben Thomas became a community
1-22     activist who helped to integrate the schools in the 1960s and
1-23     who has worked hard on a wide variety of projects to better the
 2-1     lifestyles of area citizens; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Today, as a result of Ben's efforts, new homes are
 2-3     now replacing shanties in the Douglass Community, streets are being
 2-4     rebuilt, and the area's aesthetic appeal is rapidly growing; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, As a member of the board of directors of the
 2-6     Douglass Community Arts Advisory Committee, Ben Thomas has
 2-7     also helped to raise funds for the installation of a mural
 2-8     illustrating the history of the Douglass Community; the project
 2-9     is a permanent art illustration on the entrance wall for the Dart
2-10     Rail Line depicting the theme "Tracks of Our Past and Future"; and
2-11           WHEREAS, An exemplary and distinguished gentleman, Ben Thomas
2-12     has played a major role in reviving the Douglass Community, and
2-13     his efforts and accomplishments are a source of much pride to the
2-14     citizens of Plano; now, therefore, be it 
2-15           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-16     77th Legislature, hereby express appreciation to Ben Thomas
2-17     for his many achievements and for the time and energy he has
2-18     graciously devoted to the Douglass Community; and, be it further
2-19           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him
2-20     as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
2-21                                                                 Shapiro
2-22                                  ______________________________________
2-23                                          President of the Senate
2-24                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-25                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-26                                  on May 25, 2001.
2-27                                  ______________________________________
2-28                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-29                                  ______________________________________
2-30                                           Member, Texas Senate