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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, With the passing of Benjamin F. Thomas on January |
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17, 2007, the people of Plano have lost a beloved community leader, |
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and we join them in mourning their loss; and |
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WHEREAS, Well known for his kind demeanor and his strong |
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convictions, Mr. Thomas was a dedicated advocate for Plano's |
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historic Douglass Community, and his active involvement in civic |
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planning helped that neighborhood maintain its integrity as a |
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thriving community while contributing to the thoughtful |
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revitalization of downtown; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas served on numerous boards, committees, |
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organizations, and task forces; he assisted in the establishment of |
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the Douglass Community Center, worked to secure a historical marker |
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for the Douglass Community cemetery, and, with the help of his |
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daughters, commissioned a mural celebrating the vital |
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contributions of the Douglass Community; he was also a valued |
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congregant of Shiloh Baptist Church, serving as a deacon, choir |
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member, Sunday school teacher, and executive committee officer; and |
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WHEREAS, His community efforts earned Mr. Thomas many |
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accolades; named one of PISD's One Hundred Heroes, he was |
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recognized with a Meritorious Citizen Award from the Plano Chamber |
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of Commerce and received the first Plano YMCA Strong Community |
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Award, and in 2001 a local gymnasium was named in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Retired from a 21-year tenure with Rockwell |
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International, Mr. Thomas was a charter member of the National |
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Management Association; he shared more than six decades of marriage |
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with his wife, Frances, and was blessed with four children, seven |
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grandchildren, and a great-grandchild; and |
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WHEREAS, The true character of a city is defined not by the |
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height of its buildings or the breadth of its streets but by the |
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individuals who help to shape the richness of its everyday |
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existence, and in giving freely of himself in behalf of the greater |
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good, Ben Thomas gained the lasting friendship and admiration of |
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countless residents of Plano; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Benjamin F. Thomas and |
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extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Frances; to his children, Mitchell, Toni, Dollie, and Areail; to |
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his grandchildren, Cealee, Justin, Derrick and his wife Kacey, |
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Vernon, Veronica, Elliott, and Elias; to his great-grandchild, |
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Zaeria; to his brother, James L. Thomas II; to his sisters, Norma |
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Williams and her husband Jack, Betty Henderson, Peggy Young, and |
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Dorothy Lee Ellis; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Benjamin F. |
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Thomas. |