82R11384 JBA-D

By: Davis of Dallas H.R. No. 651

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Eli Davis of Dallas has been named an Outstanding Community Leader of House District 111 by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus; and

WHEREAS, A retired educator, Mr. Davis has volunteered his time in service to the greater good over the course of several decades; born in Terrell, he grew up in Dallas and Fort Worth and earned his bachelor's degree at Mary Allen College in Crockett; he went on to receive a master's degree in education with an emphasis on administration and supervision from Prairie View A&M University; he was a member of the United States Army as well as the reserves, retiring as a master sergeant after 27 years of exemplary service; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Davis worked for the Dallas Independent School District for more than three decades; over the course of his career, he served as a high school mathematics and science teacher, as an assistant principal at several campuses, and as the principal of the B. F. Darrell Elementary School, his alma mater; he has been a member of a long list of professional educational organizations that includes the Classroom Teachers of Dallas, the Texas State Teachers Association, the National Education Association, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association; retiring in 1990, he went on to work as an assistant to Texas State Representative Jesse W. Jones for 14 years; and

WHEREAS, In his volunteer work, Mr. Davis has lent his leadership skills to numerous organizations, including the Boy Scouts, which he served as a scoutmaster, and the PTA, the Dunbar Social and Charity Club, and the Omicron Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, all of which he served as president; in addition, he has been a delegate to four Democratic National Conventions and was a member of the National Democratic Platform Committee in 2000; other organizations to benefit from his membership include the NAACP, the Dallas Area Agency on Aging, the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater New Zion Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir and Male Chorus; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the many awards he has received from his church, employer, and political party, Mr. Davis was commissioned by the governor of the State of Texas as an Honorary Texas Ranger and as a special assistant to the governor; and

WHEREAS, Eli Davis has demonstrated a lasting commitment to his fellow citizens, and his contributions have improved the quality of life in his community in countless ways; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Eli Davis on his selection as an Outstanding Community Leader of House District 111 by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Davis as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.