79S20655 BJM-D



By:  Dutton                                                       H.R. No. 225







R E S O L U T I O N

	WHEREAS, The 80th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed 

reason to celebrate, and on August 20, 2005, the Reverend Ernest B. 

McGowen, Sr., is marking this significant milestone in his life; 

and

	WHEREAS, Recently retired from his tenure as pastoral 

minister of Wesley United Methodist Church, Reverend McGowen has 

also long benefited his fellow citizens through his involvement as 

a dedicated public servant; and

	WHEREAS, Reverend McGowen's tenure in office began in 1975 

when he became the first African American to be elected to the 

Houston Community College and Houston Independent School District 

Boards of Trustees from the newly created District 2; his 

achievements in these roles were many and include the adoption of an 

observed school holiday for the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, 

Jr., the establishment of the first vocational-technical high 

school in the area, the inclusion of minority vendors, contractors, 

and professionals in the bidding process for contracts, increased 

wages and better working conditions for maintenance and food 

service employees, and the hiring and promotion of African American 

administrators within the district; and

	WHEREAS, Elected to serve on the Houston City Council in 

1979, he distinguished himself in that capacity for the next 14 

years; initiatives championed by Reverend McGowen during that time 

include the South African Divestment Ordinance, the Minority and 

Women Business Enterprise Ordinance, the Litter Control and Weed 

Abatement Ordinance, and the observance of the birthday of Dr. 

Martin Luther King, Jr., as a city holiday; moreover, he helped to 

secure pay parity for police officers and firefighters and to 

increase wages for sanitation workers and other city employees; and

	WHEREAS, Reverend McGowen also served for 12 years on the 

Houston Galveston Area Council, becoming the organization's first 

elected African American president in 1993; today, he continues to 

give generously of his time and talents by serving on the mayor's 

Ministerial Council, Transition Team, and Affirmative Action 

Committee, as well as on the Harris County Hospital District Search 

Team; and

	WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, both personal and 

professional, Reverend McGowen has enjoyed the love and support of 

his wife of 59 years, Jewell, and their three children; and

	WHEREAS, Ernest McGowen remains an inspiration to all who 

know him, and his efforts in behalf of the city of Houston have 

earned him the lasting respect of countless individuals; at this 

time, it is a pleasure to join his many admirers in celebrating 

eight decades of a life well lived; now, therefore, be it

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

Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby congratulate the Reverend 

Ernest B. McGowen, Sr., on his 80th birthday and extend to him 

sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

prepared for Reverend McGowen as an expression of high regard by the 

Texas House of Representatives.