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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of |
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entrepreneur and community leader Marion Allen Mitchell of Dallas, |
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who died on April 7, 2009, at the age of 83; and |
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WHEREAS, Marion Allen Mitchell was born in Wheelock on May |
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15, 1925, to Elijah and Amanda Mitchell; he graduated from Kemp High |
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School in Bryan; after working as a farmer during World War II, he |
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moved to Dallas, where he was employed by Edmar Ford, Acme Brick |
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Company, and Braniff Airways; and |
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WHEREAS, While working at Preston Forest Tower in the 1960s, |
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Mr. Mitchell realized that the building's mail was delivered by a |
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private company, not the U.S. Postal Service, and in 1966, he |
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started his own business, contracting with the post office to carry |
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mail between Garland and Dallas; and |
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WHEREAS, First known as Mitchell Transportation and later as |
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Mitchell Mail Service, the company was the first private mail |
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carrier to be owned by an African American in Dallas; it grew over |
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the next 25 years from a single truck to a company of 50 employees |
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transporting U.S. mail all over North Texas and leasing trailers to |
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the postal service; Mr. Mitchell also owned a truck service |
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terminal; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell was a leading member of his profession, |
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serving as a member of the board of the National Association of |
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Letter Carriers and as a vice president of the National Star Route |
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Mail Contractors Association; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of strong religious faith, Mr. Mitchell was an |
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active member of Hamilton Park United Methodist Church, serving on |
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the Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee, the Building |
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Committee, and the board of trustees; he was active in the greater |
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community as well, as a member of the Civic League, the Dallas Black |
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Chamber of Commerce, and the Dallas African American Museum, and he |
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was a lifetime member of the NAACP; and |
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WHEREAS, Marion Mitchell exemplified the virtues of |
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integrity, hard work, and initiative, and his legacy of achievement |
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and commitment to his community will continue to inspire those he |
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leaves behind; 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 Marion Allen Mitchell |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife of 65 years, Irene Shields Mitchell; to his children, |
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Constance Mitchell-Sharpe and Fred Mitchell, Sr.; to his brother, |
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Benjamin Mitchell; to his sister, Estelle Mitchell-Adams; to his |
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grandchildren, Regina Mitchell-Gillstrap, Marilyn Mitchell-Pope, |
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and Fred Mitchell, Jr.; to his great-granddaughters, Danielle and |
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Gina Pope; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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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 Marion |
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Allen Mitchell. |