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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Fort Worth lost an admired community |
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leader with the passing of Frank Wallace on January 15, 2007, at the |
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age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Fort Worth born on January 2, 1921, Frank |
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Wallace received his education at the city's public schools and was |
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a proud graduate of I. M. Terrell High School; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wallace was a renowned union activist and |
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organizer who first became involved in labor issues in the |
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mid-1940s, when he worked at a meatpacking plant and became a shop |
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steward and a union field representative; by the time Mr. Wallace |
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retired in 1984, he had worked for three international unions; his |
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service was highlighted by his tenure as assistant director for |
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District 6 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and by |
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his work as an international representative for the AFL-CIO, |
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serving more than 50 local unions in seven states; the dedication he |
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exhibited in his work was honored with his induction into the Texas |
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Labor Hall of Fame in 1998; and |
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WHEREAS, Frank Wallace was also a prominent figure in the |
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NAACP, serving as a member of its board of directors and as chair of |
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the Labor and Industry Committee; his lifetime of service to the |
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Fort Worth/Tarrant County branch of the association was honored in |
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2003, when he received the George D. Flemmings Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Other political and civic activities contributed to |
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Mr. Wallace's reputation as a leader in Fort Worth's African |
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American community; he belonged to the Coalition of Black Democrats |
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and the Minority Leaders and Citizens Council, and he was a member |
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and vice chair of the Greater Fort Worth Martin Luther King, Jr., |
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Holiday Committee; and |
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WHEREAS, Well known for his outstanding bass singing voice, |
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Mr. Wallace performed with the male chorus at Shiloh Missionary |
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Baptist Church in Fort Worth, where he was a lifelong congregant and |
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a church trustee; he also dedicated a great deal of time to other |
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community organizations, including the Masonic Rainbow Lodge No. |
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345, the Commission on Aging, and the A. Philip Randolph Institute, |
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and he served as vice president of the I. M. Terrell Alumni |
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Association for many years; devoted to preserving the historical |
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legacy of Fort Worth's African American community, he was a member |
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of the board of directors for both the Tarrant County Black |
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Historical and Genealogical Society and the Tarrant County |
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Historical Commission; and |
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WHEREAS, Whether raising his magnificent voice in song or to |
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speak out on important issues, Frank Wallace was an inspiring |
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figure who was a passionate advocate for the citizens of North |
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Texas, and his contributions will long be remembered; now, |
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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 Frank Wallace and |
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extend deepest sympathy to his family: to his wife, Helen; to his |
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son, Anthony; to his daughter-in-law, Paulette; to his |
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grandchildren, Kenda and Karis; and to his other relatives and |
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friends; and, 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 Frank |
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Wallace. |
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Veasey |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 566 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 15, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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