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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Fort Worth lost a respected physician |
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and beloved community leader on February 8, 2009, with the passing |
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of Dr. James Elvis Guinn III at the age of 91; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on September 14, 1917, to Elvis and Eva Guinn, |
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James Guinn attended the James E. Guinn School and graduated |
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from I. M. Terrell High School; after earning his bachelor's degree |
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from Prairie View A&M University, he studied to become a doctor at |
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Meharry Medical College and furthered his knowledge as a member of |
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the U.S. Army Medical Corps, attaining the rank of captain; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1942, Dr. Guinn married the love of his life, the |
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former Heloise Laverne-Jobe, in Fort Worth; during their 61 years |
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together, the couple were blessed with three children, Sheila, |
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James, and William, four granddaughters, Thalassia, Amena, |
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Lakendra, and Angela, and six great-granddaughters; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Guinn opened his private practice in 1946, and |
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he continued to serve patients in Fort Worth for the next six |
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decades, eventually retiring in 2007, at the age of 89; a pioneering |
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member of his profession, he was the first African American |
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physician to perform surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital, and he |
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earned several awards and accolades for the contributions he made |
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to his community; Dr. Guinn was a Fort Worth Ambassador, a life |
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member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and a devout member of Allen |
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Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his life, James Guinn proved himself a |
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man of tremendous ability and dedication, and although he will be |
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greatly missed, his legacy of compassionate service will continue |
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to inspire others for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. James Elvis |
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Guinn III and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: |
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to his children, Sheila Babers and her husband, Donald, James Elvis |
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Guinn IV, and William Rodney Guinn and his wife, Verdelle; to his |
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siblings, Dr. Edward Guinn and his wife, Addie, and Mary Dell |
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Johnson and her husband, Kenneth; to his grandchildren, Thalassia |
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Mombeleur and her husband, Yves, Amena Babers-Dews and her husband, |
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Calvin, Lakendra Lewis, and Angela Guinn; to his six |
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great-grandchildren and his 13 nieces and nephews; and to his other |
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relatives and many friends; and, 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 Dr. James |
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E. Guinn III. |