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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The death of the Reverend James Benjamin Thomas of |
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Galveston on March 16, 2007, at the age of 82, has saddened the many |
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individuals who were privileged to know this remarkable man; and |
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WHEREAS, Fondly known as "the Rev," James Thomas devoted many |
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years of his life to serving his fellow citizens; he distinguished |
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himself on the Galveston City Council for nearly two decades and was |
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a leading advocate for the Galveston Housing Authority and a valued |
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member of numerous civic organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, A former president of the Galveston chapter of the |
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NAACP and a lifelong civil rights activist, Reverend Thomas played |
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a role in establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a longtime proponent of education who helped |
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to integrate local schools, and he worked hard throughout his life |
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to encourage young people to pursue educational opportunities; he |
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also organized the city's midnight basketball league, a program |
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that created a safe and positive environment for kids and helped |
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keep them off the street; in 2004, the City of Galveston and the |
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Parks and Recreation Department named a recreation center at Wright |
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Cuney Park in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, A World War II veteran, Reverend Thomas worked for |
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the U.S. Post Office for more than 30 years; in 1978, he became the |
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pastor of Market Street Missionary Baptist Church, where he |
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encouraged the congregation as well as youth and low-income |
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families in the community to be "educated, emancipated, and |
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excellent"; he retired from the ministry in 2002; and |
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WHEREAS, Beloved for his many good works, Reverend Thomas |
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lived his life in service to others, endeavoring to make the world |
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around him a better place; although his death has brought great |
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sorrow to the Galveston community, his life was an inspiring |
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example of the good that one person can accomplish; now, therefore, |
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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 the Reverend James |
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Benjamin Thomas and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his |
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family; to his wife of 56 years, Ruby Gamble Thomas; to his children |
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and their spouses, James and Anita Thomas, Lawrence and Peggy |
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Thomas, Jocelyn Thomas-Goins and Joe Johnson, Paula Thomas, and |
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Sharon and Randall Parker; to his grandchildren, James, Candace, |
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Justin, Chase, Nikki, Courtney, Iesha, Dana, Joangela, and Randall; |
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to his great-grandchidren, Jasmine, Jacob, Brenna Ann, Marlie, |
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Maci, and Caelan; to his brothers, Lawrence and George Thomas; to |
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his sister, Carrie Bell Clay; to his sisters-in-law, Cleo and Linda |
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Thomas; to Paul Thomas; and to his other relatives and many friends; |
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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 the |
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Reverend James Benjamin Thomas. |