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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, T. J. Patterson, Sr., is an outstanding Texan who |
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has long distinguished himself through his professional |
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achievements and his many years of community leadership; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Waxahachie, Mr. Patterson graduated in |
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1954 from Booker T. Washington High School in Wichita Falls and went |
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on to earn a bachelor's degree from Bishop College, where he served |
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as editor of the newspaper; he began work as a private school |
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teacher in 1959, but soon answered his country's call to arms during |
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the Vietnam War, serving as a member of the U.S. Army; his varied |
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career also includes service as a commander in the Navy Reserve, as |
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executive director of the Community Action Board, and as assistant |
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to the dean of the College of Business Administration at Texas Tech |
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University for more than a decade; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Patterson became co-publisher of the Southwest |
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Digest, along with his friend Eddie P. Richardson, in 1984; in the |
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years since then, the two men have worked to keep Lubbock's African |
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American community informed on a range of pertinent news; the |
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weekly paper is famous for publishing the names and photos of local |
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people arrested for drug dealing, as well as for its coverage of |
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community events and milestones not always reported by others; and |
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WHEREAS, At the same time that he entered the publishing |
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business, Mr. Patterson made a name for himself in local politics |
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when he was elected as a member of the Lubbock City Council; he |
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served continuously in that role for 20 years, founding the Texas |
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Association of Black City Council Members and serving as the first |
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African American president of the Texas Municipal League along the |
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way; moreover, he was a board member of the National League of |
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Cities; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan has been supported through the |
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years by his wife, Bobbie Gean Bailey-Patterson, a longtime |
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educator for Lubbock ISD, and their three children, Avis, T. J., and |
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Shelia; together, the couple were honored with the dedication of |
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the Bobbie Gean and T. J. Patterson Library in Lubbock, and a Texas |
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Tech scholarship has recently been established in their name by |
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Each One Reach One; and |
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WHEREAS, T. J. Patterson has set an inspiring example of |
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professional achievement and civic engagement, and in so doing, he |
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has earned the lasting respect and admiration of all who know him; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize T. J. Patterson, Sr., for his |
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outstanding efforts in behalf of his fellow citizens and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; 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 Mr. Patterson as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Davis of Dallas |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 781 was adopted by the House on March |
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17, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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