SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 103

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
recognize William-Paul Dunbar Thomas for his years of service to 
the Texas Senate; and
	WHEREAS, William-Paul Thomas was the district office 
director for Senator Rodney Ellis from 1990 to 2000; and
	WHEREAS, William-Paul grew up in the Third Ward in Houston; 
he served in the United States Air Force as an emergency service 
specialist in California and returned to Houston to attend Texas 
Southern University; and
	WHEREAS, He was a student leader at Texas Southern 
University when he met then Houston City Council member 
Rodney Ellis; that meeting began the political career that 
would take him to Washington, D.C., to work for United States 
Representative William Gray III, chairman of the House Budget 
Committee; and
	WHEREAS, When he returned to Houston, Mr. Thomas immersed 
himself in public service; he served as district director for 
United States Senator Bob Krueger, and he worked in the two 
successful campaigns of President Bill Clinton; and
	WHEREAS, William-Paul Thomas currently serves as Texas 
Bureau Chief in Houston for the Wall Street Project, a 
continuation of Reverend Jesse Jackson's lifework, the 
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; the project's mission is to promote 
inclusion, opportunity, and economic growth for underserved 
populations; and

	WHEREAS, Fourteen years ago, William-Paul married his high 
school sweetheart, Chanthini, and the couple has two sons, 
William-Paul II and Ryan Alexander; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas serves on the boards of numerous 
organizations in Houston, and he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha 
Fraternity and the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church; an exemplary 
public servant, William-Paul brings honor to himself, his 
community, and the State of Texas; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 
78th Legislature, hereby recognize William-Paul Dunbar Thomas 
for his contributions to the Texas Senate and the citizens of 
Texas; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
him as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
                                                                           Ellis




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on February 5, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate