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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The nation lost a trailblazing leader with the death |
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of San Antonio native Percy Ellis Sutton, whose remarkable life |
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drew to a close on December 26, 2009, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of a former slave, Mr. Sutton became one of |
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New York City's most influential figures, distinguishing himself in |
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the military, the law, business, and public service; he mentored |
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and inspired several generations of African American activists and |
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politicians, including former New York mayor David Dinkins, who |
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once stated, "I stand on the shoulders of Percy Ellis Sutton"; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on November 24, 1920, Mr. Sutton was the |
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youngest child of educators Lillian Viola Sutton and |
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Samuel J. Sutton, Sr.; as a boy, he worked hard on the family's farm |
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in Prairie View and joined his father in the fight for civil rights, |
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passing out leaflets for the NAACP in the 1930s, despite the risk to |
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his personal safety; he attended Tuskegee University, Hampton |
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University, and Prairie View A&M University before interrupting his |
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education to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II; |
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his service as an intelligence officer with the famed Tuskegee |
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Airmen brought him two combat stars, and he went on to serve his |
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country again during the Korean War, attaining the rank of captain; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The GI Bill enabled Mr. Sutton to enroll in Columbia |
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Law School, and he went on to earn his degree at Brooklyn Law School |
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while holding down two full-time jobs, as a subway conductor and a |
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postal employee; teaming with his brother Oliver, he opened a law |
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practice in Harlem in 1953 and counted Malcolm X and boxing legend |
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Sugar Ray Robinson among his first clients; as the civil rights |
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movement gained momentum, he represented hundreds of protesters in |
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the South and was himself arrested as a Freedom Rider; later, he |
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assumed leadership of the New York City branch of the NAACP; and |
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WHEREAS, During the 1950s, Mr. Sutton began devoting his |
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enormous energy and talent to the Democratic Party and participated |
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in numerous campaigns; he won election to the New York State |
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Assembly in 1964 and then served as president of the Borough of |
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Manhattan for 11 years, beginning in 1966; after leaving office, he |
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continued to share his political acumen with others while building |
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a media empire that helped give greater voice to the African |
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American community; and |
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WHEREAS, Inner City Broadcasting, a group of investors led by |
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Mr. Sutton and his brother Oliver, bought the New York Amsterdam |
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News, the city's largest African American newspaper, and an AM |
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radio station, WLIB, which became the first African American-owned |
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radio station in the metropolis; in 1974, the company bought an FM |
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station, WBLS, which became the flagship for the urban music |
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format; ICB eventually expanded into other markets across the |
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country and acquired two cable television franchises; and |
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WHEREAS, A true visionary, Mr. Sutton guided the purchase and |
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renovation of the Apollo Theater, and the restoration of this |
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historic landmark sparked the revitalization of 125th Street and |
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other parts of Harlem; he took his place on the world stage as well, |
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accepting an invitation from President Bill Clinton to meet with |
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international business leaders during the 1995-1996 Group of Seven |
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Nations conference; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Sutton served on the national board of the NAACP |
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from 1989 to 1992 and raised funds as chair of the Great Black |
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American Artists Dinner Series; moreover, he established the annual |
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NAACP Lillian & Samuel Sutton Education Scholarship in honor of his |
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parents, and the organization accorded him its highest honor, the |
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Springarn Medal; in all his endeavors, he enjoyed the love and |
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support of his wife, Leatrice, and his children, Cheryl L. Sutton |
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and Pierre "Pepe" Sutton; and |
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WHEREAS, Few individuals can claim achievements as |
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far-reaching as those of Percy Sutton; "Mr. Chairman," as he was |
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known, was admired for his dapper style and gracious personality, |
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as well as for his brilliance, eloquence, and drive, and his |
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profound commitment to social progress will continue to inspire |
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others for many years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay special tribute to the |
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life and legacy of Percy Ellis Sutton. |
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McClendon |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 223 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on June 28, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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