H.R. No. 107

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Those Texans who give freely of their time and talents to benefit the larger community make the world a better place through their actions, and the Reverend Raymond A. Callies, Sr., of San Antonio, who passed away on June 9, 2011, at the age of 81 , was indeed one such person; and

WHEREAS, R. A. Callies was born in El Campo on September 12, 1929; he earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Arkansas and served two years in the U.S. Army before embarking on dual careers in the ministry and education; he founded the First Gethsemane Baptist Church in San Antonio, where he served as pastor for three decades, and he also taught for more than 35 years at a San Antonio school once known as James W. Riley, Jr., Middle School; Reverend Callies was instrumental in persuading the San Antonio Independent School District to rename that campus Martin Luther King, Jr., Middle School, in just one of many examples of his efforts to celebrate the life of Dr. King; and

WHEREAS, Driving his red truck, with Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech broadcasting from the speakers, Reverend Callies would lead his family and a few close friends through San Antonio's East Side in the 1970s; thanks to his perseverance, these informal processions grew into the city-sponsored MLK March, the largest such march in the country, with upwards of 100,000 individuals participating; and

WHEREAS, Also in the 1970s, Reverend Callies initiated a drive to erect a statue in Dr. King's honor; he and his supporters raised more than $9,000 over the course of some five years, and in 1982, the statue was dedicated as the Monument of Brotherhood at the intersection of East Houston Street and North New Braunfels Avenue, a site that he later worked to have designated MLK Plaza; among his other local accomplishments are the development of Martin Luther King Park and the naming of Martin Luther King Drive and the MLK Freedom Bridge; and

WHEREAS, Through the years, Reverend Callies joined forces with activists across Texas to lobby for the recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day as a state holiday; their goal was ultimately realized in 1991, with the enactment of Senate Bill 134; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Callies distinguished himself as well through his work to enhance the quality of life for residents of San Antonio's East Side, advocating for such general improvements as traffic lights and drainage projects; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Callies was the recipient of many accolades, including three honorary doctorates; moreover, the San Antonio MLK Commission presented him with its first annual MLK Distinguished Achievement Award in 1987; in January 2008, the city further recognized his contributions with a plaque fittingly placed in MLK Plaza, near the foot of the King monument; in all of his undertakings, Reverend Callies enjoyed the support of his loving wife, Eunice, and their five children; and

WHEREAS, Passionate, inspiring, and devoted to the causes he held dear, R. A. Callies helped to preserve the legacy of a great American and to empower his fellow citizens, and his achievements will continue to resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Reverend R. A. Callies and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Eunice; to his children, Aaron, Doris, Arlington, Yvette, and Phylis; to his six grandchildren; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of the Reverend R. A. Callies.

McClendon

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 107 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on June 28, 2011.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House