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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of Thurmond Woodard of Austin on April |
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4, 2007, at the age of 58, has brought a profoundly felt loss to his |
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friends and family, yet the memory of his accomplished life may |
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offer them a measure of comfort in their time of grief; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on January 9, 1949, Mr. Woodard was a graduate |
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of Hampton University in Virginia; he enjoyed a successful 30-year |
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career in finance, marketing, and human resources, dedicating much |
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of his work to promoting diversity in corporate America; and |
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WHEREAS, The former president and CEO of a consulting firm in |
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Georgia, Mr. Woodard came to Dell, Inc., in 2000; the Austin-based |
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company's first vice president for global diversity and chief |
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ethics, privacy, and compliance officer, he helped shape Dell into |
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a leading employer of minorities; and |
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WHEREAS, His efforts were instrumental in earning Dell the |
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top award for workplace diversity from the U.S. Department of |
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Labor, the Secretary of Labor's Opportunity Award, a ranking as one |
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of the Top 20 Best Corporate Citizens, and the 2005 Central and |
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South Texas Minority Business Council Corporation of the Year |
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award; Mr. Woodard's achievements in creating opportunities for |
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minorities were recognized by the Austin Area Urban League in 2006 |
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with the Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award; and |
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WHEREAS, He also gave back to his community as a trustee for |
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Huston-Tillotson University and as a member of the Congressional |
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Black Caucus Foundation Board, the Ethics and Compliance Officers |
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Association, the Catalyst board, and ELC; moreover, he was a |
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devoted congregant of David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, where |
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he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher and where he and his |
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wife, Suzanne, led Crown Financial Ministries; and |
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WHEREAS, Those fortunate enough to have known Thurmond |
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Woodard will always remember his generosity of spirit, his tireless |
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optimism, and his unwavering dedication to his friends, his family, |
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and the betterment of his community; 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 Thurmond Woodard and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of |
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37 years, Suzanne Woodard; to his children, Miki and Derek; to his |
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sister, Towanna Comer; and to his other relatives and 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 Thurmond |
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Woodard. |