H.R. No. 487
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February
  2009 provides an opportunity to recognize the rich cultural
  heritage of African Americans and the significant contributions
  they have made and are making in the Lone Star State; and
         WHEREAS, An event celebrating black history was established
  in 1926 as a weeklong observance by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an author
  and scholar and the son of former slaves who sought a means of
  educating non-black Americans about African American culture and
  engendering pride among black Americans; the tribute was expanded
  to a month in 1976 and was officially recognized by President Gerald
  Ford, who encouraged all Americans to pay " . . . tribute to Black
  History Month and the message of courage and perseverance it brings
  to all of us"; and
         WHEREAS, People of African descent have a long history in
  Texas; in 1528, a Moor named Estevan accompanied the Spanish
  explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca on a trek across our state; by
  the end of the 18th century, some 450 individuals of African origins
  lived in Spanish Texas, and in the early 1800s many African
  Americans enslaved in the American South crossed the Sabine River,
  seeking their freedom and settling in East Texas; and
         WHEREAS, In the 19th century, before emancipation, African
  Americans played an enormous role in producing the state's
  agricultural bounty and also worked as skilled artisans; after the
  Civil War, many moved to urban centers, and in the years to follow,
  provided manpower for new industries that were established; and
         WHEREAS, African American infantry and cavalry garrisoned
  forts in West Texas during the Indian Wars; known as "Buffalo
  Soldiers," they patrolled the frontier with the assistance of
  Seminole-Negro Indian scouts, built roads, and escorted mail
  carriers; Sergeant Emmanuel Stance, stationed at Fort McKavett, was
  the first African American who fought in the Indian Wars to be
  awarded the Medal of Honor; and
         WHEREAS, Since the early 1800s, African Americans have been
  involved in the cattle industry; one of the most famous black native
  Texan cowboys was William Pickett, who became a Wild West rodeo
  performer and who is believed to have originated the bulldogging
  event; and
         WHEREAS, In the mid-20th century, African Americans in Texas
  significantly advanced the civil rights movement by filing and
  winning lawsuits that outlawed the white primary and helped to
  integrate graduate and professional schools; today, influential
  African American leaders continue to follow in the footsteps of
  their predecessors, taking their rightful place in the public arena
  and promoting social justice; and
         WHEREAS, African Americans have been a significant part of
  the population of Texas for hundreds of years, and the celebration
  of Black History Month acknowledges and promotes the immeasurable
  benefits of living in a truly diverse society; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
  Legislature hereby recognize February 2009 as Black History Month
  and encourage all citizens to learn more about the history and
  accomplishments of African Americans in the Lone Star State.
 
 
Giddings Allen
 
Coleman Davis of Dallas
 
Deshotel Dukes
 
Dutton Edwards
 
Hodge Mallory Caraway
 
McClendon Naishtat
 
Turner of Harris Veasey
 
 
Straus Gattis Menendez
 
Allen Geren Merritt
 
Alonzo Giddings Miklos
 
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
 
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
 
Anderson Guillen Moody
 
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
 
Berman Hamilton Naishtat
 
Bohac Hancock Oliveira
 
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
 
Bonnen Harless Orr
 
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
 
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
 
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
 
Burnam Hernandez Patrick
 
Button Herrero Paxton
 
Callegari Hilderbran Pena
 
Castro Hochberg Phillips
 
Chavez Hodge Pickett
 
Chisum Homer Pierson
 
Christian Hopson Pitts
 
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
 
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
 
Cook Hughes Riddle
 
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
 
Crabb Isett Ritter
 
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
 
Creighton Jones Rose
 
Crownover Keffer Sheffield
 
Darby Kent Shelton
 
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
 
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
 
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
 
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
 
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
 
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
 
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
 
Edwards Legler Thibaut
 
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
 
Eissler Lewis Truitt
 
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
 
England Madden Turner of Harris
 
Farabee Maldonado Vaught
 
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
 
Farrar Marquez Villarreal
 
Fletcher Martinez Vo
 
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
 
Flynn McCall Weber
 
Frost McClendon Woolley
 
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 487 was adopted by the House on
  February 18, 2009, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House