79S30238 MMS-D

By:  Craddick                                                     H.R. No. 143



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The community of Midland lost a most distinguished 
citizen with the passing of Dr. Viola M. Coleman on October 12, 
2005, at the age of 86; and
	WHEREAS, Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, on September 25, 
1919, Dr. Coleman received a bachelor's degree in education from 
Southern University in 1939; she subsequently spent several years 
teaching before deciding to pursue a longtime interest in medicine; 
because African Americans were barred at that time from attending 
medical school in Louisiana, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to 
attend Meharry Medical College, from which she graduated in 1939; 
and
	WHEREAS, After completing her internship in New York, Dr. 
Coleman returned to Louisiana, but she was unable to practice in her 
hometown; she and her husband, Raymond Coleman, consequently headed 
for California; on their way west, however, they stopped in Midland 
on the advice of a friend, who knew that that city was seeking to 
recruit a minority physician; and
	WHEREAS, Promised hospital privileges at the new Midland 
hospital and assured of a bank loan, Dr. Coleman established her 
practice in that West Texas community in 1951; with quiet 
determination, she then set about addressing not only the medical 
needs of her patients but also the civil rights inequities that 
confronted the city's African American population; and
	WHEREAS, Having opened her waiting room to all races, Dr. 
Coleman became instrumental in ending segregation in the Midland 
hospital and in integrating local restaurants; she also played a 
crucial role in integrating the Midland public schools, and she 
continued to be deeply involved in efforts to support minority 
students and to secure for them equal academic opportunities; her 
efforts in that regard ranged from many acts of individual 
assistance, such as paying for students' education and helping in 
other ways at critical moments, to securing a Head Start program, 
advocating for students with limited English proficiency, and 
working to improve high school graduation rates; and
	WHEREAS, Greatly respected by her peers, Dr. Coleman became 
the medical chief of staff at Midland Memorial Hospital (MMH), and 
in that capacity she sought to promote greater public understanding 
of hospital issues; she was also responsible for initiating an EMT 
program at Midland College, making it possible for emergency calls 
to be answered by trained personnel; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Coleman maintained her private practice until 
MMH purchased it in 1998 and turned her office into a community 
clinic, whereupon she joined the clinic's staff; at the age of 85, 
she was still seeing patients; and
	WHEREAS, A woman of strong religious faith, Viola Coleman was 
a valued member of First United Methodist Church; and
	WHEREAS, Among the myriad accolades bestowed on this esteemed 
physician and civic leader was the prestigious Thomas Jefferson 
Award for Public Service; Viola M. Coleman High School in Midland is 
named in her honor; and
	WHEREAS, For more than half a century, Dr. Coleman gave 
unstintingly of her time, talents, and energy to provide health 
care for the most vulnerable and to champion the cause of social 
justice, and the legacy of her life is truly beyond measure; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of 
Dr. Viola M. Coleman and extend sincere sympathy to the members of 
her family:  to her sons and daughters-in-law, Conrad and Marie 
Coleman and Reginald and Debra Coleman; to her grandchildren, 
Christopher, Kathleen, Michelle, and David Coleman; to her brother, 
Jefferson Johnson; and to all who mourn this esteemed woman; and, be 
it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Viola 
M. Coleman.