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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close when Amos James Evans of Port Arthur died on February 12, |
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2009, at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, Amos Evans was born in Louisiana on May 11, 1922, to |
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Charlie and Florence Evans; he was a student at Acadian Parish |
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Training School, where he participated in the band, the boxing |
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team, and the basketball team, and he later attended LaSalle |
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Business Correspondence Institute; answering his nation's call to |
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duty, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Evans settled in Port Arthur and |
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went to work as an operator at the Gulf Oil refinery; he retired |
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after 37 years of service with the company; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Evans was a champion for |
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civil rights, social justice, and equal opportunity in his |
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community; the youth director of the local chapter of the NAACP, he |
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served on its membership committee and developed a Saturday reading |
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program for children at the chapter headquarters; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Evans was also active in his community as |
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president of the PTA and as a member of the Valero Community |
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Advisory Panel and the Port Arthur Industry and Community Leaders |
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Advisory Group; moreover, he served on the boards of the YMCA and |
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the Port Arthur Housing Authority; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of strong religious faith, he was a member of |
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St. Paul United Methodist Church for 68 years and served his |
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congregation as a lay leader, a trustee, president of the choir, and |
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Sunday school superintendent and teacher; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Evans received numerous accolades through the |
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years, including the Congressional Community Award, the American |
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Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award, the Unsung Hero |
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Award, and an entry in Who's Who Among Black Americans; he was also |
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recognized by such organizations as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the |
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Golden Triangle Coalition of Black Democrats, and the Golden Gate |
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Social and Civic Club, among many others; and |
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WHEREAS, This caring and compassionate gentleman dedicated |
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himself to serving others and to upholding the principles of |
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equality and justice in which he believed, and he leaves behind an |
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inspiring legacy of achievement that his loved ones can remember |
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with pride; 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 life of Amos James Evans and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Carolyn Simon Evans; to his daughter, Winnifred Evans-Barker; |
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to his sons, Karim Abdullah and his wife, Hanneefah, Muhammad |
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Abdullah and his wife, Helena, and Wendell Evans; to his |
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granddaughters, Nadria Turner, Yhana Comeaux, Dichel Gant, Karima |
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Rice, Rhonda Thomas, Hana Abdullah, Halimah Price, Donna Powell, |
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and Iona Eaglin; to his grandsons, Morris Abdullah, Musemah Rashad |
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Abdullah, Adonis Evans, Wesley Evans, and Lawrence Augustine; to |
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his sister-in-law, Phyllis Morris, and her husband, William; to his |
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sister, Nettie Wycoff Evans; to his brother, George Evans, and his |
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wife, Pearline; to his nephew, Brian Harrison; to his 20 |
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great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and many friends; |
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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 Amos James |
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Evans. |