81R8040 JGH-D

By: Turner of Harris H.R. No. 456

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, On February 17, 2009, our esteemed colleague Harold V. Dutton, Jr., is celebrating his 64th birthday, making this the perfect occasion to recognize his outstanding record of service to the people of House District 142 and to all Texans; and

WHEREAS, A native of Houston's Fifth Ward, Representative Dutton is a graduate of Phillis Wheatley High School; he earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Texas Southern University, where he has since been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by the School of Business; he received his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and is now a member of the school's adjunct faculty; and

WHEREAS, In his professional life, Representative Dutton has made his mark as executive director of the Julia C. Hester House, as a corporate planner and economic analyst for Conoco, as president of Four Star Broadcasting, and as an attorney specializing in civil rights and employment discrimination; he is a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Houston Bar Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice; and

WHEREAS, Representative Dutton's numerous legislative accomplishments include sponsoring the first statutory program in Texas to assist women-owned and minority-owned businesses, enhancing public education, and creating incentives to increase the availability and affordability of insurance in traditionally underserved areas; furthermore, he has sponsored legislation that has enabled former offenders to regain the right to vote after serving their sentences, strengthened the right of parents to discipline their children, revamped the juvenile justice system, and established the state's annual tax holiday; and

WHEREAS, Frequently honored for his accomplishments, Representative Dutton was named an Outstanding Young Man of America early in his career, and he has been lauded by the Houston Forward Times, the Houston Police Officers Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Women's Political Caucus, the Harris County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, the Afro American Sheriff's Deputy League, the Hispanic Journal, and the U.S. Small Business Administration; he is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and a 32nd degree Mason; and

WHEREAS, Harold Dutton, Jr., has made many significant contributions to the work of this chamber through his 13 terms in office, and as he prepares to celebrate his birthday, it is indeed appropriate to honor him for his service; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., on the occasion of his 64th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Representative Dutton as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.