SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1110

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize Dick Gregory, who is being honored with a 75th Birthday Gala on June 29, 2007, in Dallas; and

WHEREAS, A legendary entertainer, Dick Gregory began performing standup comedy in the 1950s while serving in the United States Army; after his discharge, he entered the national comedy scene in 1961 when the Chicago Playboy Club offered him a three-year contract; and

WHEREAS, He will be the guest of honor at the Don't Believe the Hype Celebrity Weekend, cohosted by Cheryl Smith and the Reverend Frederick Haynes of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gregory, a civil rights activist, was involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, drawing attention to such issues as segregation and disenfranchisement; when local Mississippi governments stopped distributing federal food surpluses to African Americans in areas where the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was registering voters, he chartered a plane to bring in several tons of food; and

WHEREAS, He has been supported in all that he has done by his beloved wife, Lil, and his ten children; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gregory was recently honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in a special tribute hosted by Bill Cosby with such guests as Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, and Cicely Tyson; he truly deserves recognition for his many achievements; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 80th Legislature, hereby commend Dick Gregory for his many contributions to society; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

West

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 22, 2007.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate