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78S41541 KO-D

By:  Hodge                                                        H.R. No. 297



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The retirement of Dr. J. B. Gassaway in April 2004 
brings to a close a remarkable 32-year tenure with the City of 
Dallas Park and Recreation Department; and
	WHEREAS, After serving in the U.S. Navy and graduating from  
Bishop College, Dr. Gassaway embarked upon his career with the 
Dallas park department in 1972; initially athletic coordinator and 
athletic director, he was promoted in 1982 to district manager and 
then again in 1996 to assistant general manager of Fair Park, 
thereby becoming the first African American to hold that 
prestigious position; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Gassaway may indeed look back with pride at his 
many accomplishments during his tenure at the City of Dallas Park 
and Recreation Department; those innumerable achievements include 
the initiation of a federal job program to design and renovate 23 
playgrounds, the creation of a one-of-a-kind playground at Kiest 
Park, the construction of two new recreation centers, the expansion 
of a municipal athletic program from 350 teams in 1974 to more than 
6,000 teams in 1982, the development of the existing regional 
boundaries for the Dallas Park System, and the increase of the 
number of annual events held at Fair Park from 25 in 1996 to more 
than 100 in 2003; and
	WHEREAS, In 1998, Dr. Gassaway also coordinated the first 
Veteran's Day celebration in Dallas since 1949; held at Fair Park, 
the event was attended by more than 125,000 participants and viewed 
by more than 1.4 billion people around the world via satellite; 
earning the Mayor's Special Recognition Award that year, as well as 
in 1985 and 1986, this dedicated professional has been the 
recipient of more than 130 commendations and special awards; and
	WHEREAS, While attending to the demands of his job, Dr. 
Gassaway earned a master's degree in 2001 and a Ph.D. in 2002 in 
religious education from the School of the Scripture, where he 
currently serves on the faculty; he is a member of Christ Memorial 
Missionary Baptist Church and the International Free & Accepted 
Modern Masons, Inc.; a 33rd degree Mason, he was appointed Grand 
Master of Texas at the age of 23, making him the youngest grand 
master ever of a Masonic body, and he also served as National 
District Grand Master of the Gulf Coast District; and
	WHEREAS, With his unwavering dedication to excellence and 
outstanding leadership ability, Dr. Gassaway has truly been an 
asset to Fair Park and to the City of Dallas Park and Recreation 
Department; although he will be missed by his colleagues, the 
record of accomplishments that he leaves behind will not soon be 
forgotten; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby recognize Dr. J. B. 
Gassaway on the occasion of his retirement as assistant general 
manager of Fair Park and extend to him sincere best wishes for 
continued success and happiness as he begins the next chapter of his 
life; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Dr. Gassaway as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.