79S20400 MAM-D



By:  Dutton                                                       H.R. No. 160







R E S O L U T I O N

	WHEREAS, The congregants of Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist 

Church in Houston are honoring the Reverend Leonard N. Barksdale on 

the occasion of his 11th anniversary as pastor on August 14, 2005; 

and

	WHEREAS, Reverend Barksdale joined the Fifth Ward Missionary 

Baptist community in 1974 and has served as pastor since May 16, 

1994; before assuming his current post, he was secretary of the 

trustee board, chair of the education committee, member of the 

brotherhood and male chorus, Sunday school teacher, and minister; 

and

	WHEREAS, Born on November 11, 1948, in Galveston, Reverend 

Barksdale graduated from Central High School and earned his 

bachelor's degree from the University of Houston and his doctoral 

degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law; he also obtained a 

degree in biblical studies from the College of Biblical 

Studies-Houston and completed postgraduate work at Dallas 

Theological Seminary; and

	WHEREAS, After graduating from law school, this esteemed 

Texan received a Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship and served as an 

attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Louisville, Kentucky; 

eventually he entered private practice in Houston, and maintained 

membership in several professional organizations, including the 

State Bar of Texas, the National Bar Association, the American Bar 

Association, and the Houston Lawyer's Association, which he served 

as secretary; and

	WHEREAS, A dedicated member of his community, Reverend 

Barksdale currently contributes his time as a volunteer for the 

Houston Independent School District; he has received numerous 

honors for his professional and civic accomplishments and was named 

a Man on the Move in the 90s by Sigma Gamma Rho Society, Inc., 

Outstanding Minister by the Sugar Valley chapter of the Top Ladies 

of Distinction, Inc., and Houston Man of the Year by Inspire Women; 

and

	WHEREAS, In his role as pastor of FWMBC, Reverend Barksdale 

has incorporated many new ministries, including a mentorship 

program, a community awareness committee, a young adult ministry, 

and a computer literacy ministry, to name but a few; he has also 

cooperated with nine area churches to build two new homes for 

families in need and has secured the construction of new 

classrooms, a multipurpose center, and a library and the 

implementation of a website for the church; and

	WHEREAS, With the love and support of his wife, Gladys Glass 

Barksdale, and their daughters, Lea and Anita, Reverend Barksdale 

has dedicated his life to improving the lives of Fifth Ward 

residents by providing spiritual guidance and serving as a 

professional role model, and he will undoubtedly continue to 

promote a message of faith and goodwill in his continued work with 

his church; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 

Legislature, 2nd Called Session, honor the Reverend Leonard N. 

Barksdale of Houston for 11 years of service as pastor of Fifth Ward 

Missionary Baptist Church and extend to him sincere best wishes for 

continued success and fulfillment; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

prepared for Reverend Barksdale as an expression of high regard by 

the Texas House of Representatives.