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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through exemplary public service |
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drew to a close with the passing of noted educator James Larance |
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Hill of Austin on September 2, 2012, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Jerome and Ida Bell Hill, Dr. Hill was |
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born in Austin on August 21, 1928; he earned his bachelor's degree |
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at Huston-Tillotson College and also held a master's degree in |
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educational psychology and a doctoral degree in educational |
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administration from The University of Texas at Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Hill began his career in the Abilene Independent |
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School District as a high school counselor, mathematics teacher, |
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and band director; subsequently, he became deputy commissioner of |
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the Texas Education Agency and then director of the southwest field |
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office for Educational Testing Service, with responsibility for a |
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five-state area; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1993, Dr. Hill joined The University of Texas at |
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Austin as associate vice president for administration and public |
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affairs; he was named the university's first African American vice |
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president in 2000, and, as vice president for community and school |
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relations, he took on general management of the Hogg Foundation for |
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Mental Health, the University Interscholastic League, Neighborhood |
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Longhorns, University Outreach programs, and Pre-college Youth |
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Development, among other areas; and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan facilitated the university's |
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relationships with schools, school systems, and state agencies, and |
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he provided invaluable leadership in promoting the diversity of the |
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student body and strengthening the institution's relationships |
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with minorities and neighboring communities; he also developed |
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mutually beneficial partnerships with state leaders and key |
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constituents; over the years, he shared his vast expertise with the |
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Task Force for Austin Major Employees, the Martin Luther King, Jr., |
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Statue Committee, and the Austin Entrepreneurial Project, among |
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other groups; although he retired in January 2007, he continued to |
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benefit the university as senior vice president and special |
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assistant to the president; and |
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WHEREAS, A founding member of the Texas Alliance of Black |
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School Educators, Dr. Hill actively supported the mission of the |
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organization; he received numerous accolades for his far-reaching |
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accomplishments in education, including the Austin Area Urban |
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League-Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award, the Ex-Students' Association |
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Legacy Award, and a commendation for his long and dedicated service |
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as a member of the State Agency Coordinating Committee; in tribute |
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to his achievements, the African American Staff Advocating Progress |
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Association at UT established the James Hill Scholarship Fund; and |
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WHEREAS, Gracious, kind, and caring, James Hill won a special |
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place in the hearts of innumerable people as a mentor and role |
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model; although he is deeply missed, his exceptional contributions |
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to education and to The University of Texas at Austin community will |
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continue to resonate widely in the years to come; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. James Larance |
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Hill and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to |
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his wife of more than 62 years, Geraldine Hill; to his daughter, |
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Jacqueline Howard, and her husband, Charles; to his grandchildren, |
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Pamela Tyus and her husband, David, and Charles Howard and his wife, |
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Dionne; to his great-grandchildren, Christopher James Howard, |
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Anthony Tyus, and Miles Lawrence Howard; to his sisters, Irene |
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Thompson and Wray Plicque; to his brother, Doxy Hill; and to his |
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many other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House |
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of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. |
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James Larance Hill. |
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Giddings |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 596 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on February 25, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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