H.R. No. 742
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, With the passing of Dr. Donald Arthur Brooks, the
citizens of Fort Worth have lost a gifted surgeon and a pioneering
leader in the community, and we join his family and friends in
mourning their loss; and
WHEREAS, A native of Fort Worth, Dr. Brooks graduated among
the top of his class at I. M. Terrell High School before earning his
bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University in 1941; he went
on to serve the next two years in the United States Army, and much of
that time was spent in Italy with the 92nd Infantry Division during
World War II; and
WHEREAS, On his return to the United States, he pursued a
medical degree at Howard University with the assistance of the G.I.
Bill and money saved from summer jobs; and
WHEREAS, In 1956, Dr. Brooks married Gloria Jewel Smith, and
the following year, after completing his residency in surgery at
Howard, he returned to Fort Worth, where he became the first African
American to practice general surgery in the city and the first
African American to become a board-certified surgeon in the state;
and
WHEREAS, Together with his brother, Dr. Marion Brooks, a
family physician, he opened two clinics in his hometown and
dedicated himself to serving the city's minority community;
moreover, his considerable talents as a surgeon won him the
admiration and respect of his professional peers, and as chief of
surgery at St. Joseph Hospital, he set an example of excellence that
continues to inspire all who were privileged to know him; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Donald Arthur
Brooks of Fort Worth and extend sincere sympathy to the members of
his family: to his wife, Gloria Smith Brooks; to his children,
Gloria Brooks, Dr. Michael Brooks, and Dr. Ralph Brooks; to his
grandchildren, Alicia Brooks and Michael Brooks, Jr.; and to his
other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr.
Donald Arthur Brooks.
Veasey Allen of Harris
Anchia Burnam
Coleman Davis of Dallas
Deshotel Giddings
Hodge McClendon
Thompson Turner
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 742 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 23, 2005.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House