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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Mary Lynn Morris is retiring from the Dallas |
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Marshal's Office on March 5, 2013, drawing to a close a notable |
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career in public service that has spanned nearly three decades; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating from Wilmer-Hutchins High School, |
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Mary Morris joined the City of Dallas as a clerk in 1984, and in |
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1986, she completed her training with the Regional Police Academy |
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and became the first African American woman ever hired by the Dallas |
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Marshal's Office; her duties as a deputy marshal included |
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transferring prisoners, enforcing warrants, and participating in |
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special task forces; she was promoted to sergeant in 1991 and to |
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chief deputy in 1999; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2004, Ms. Morris became the assistant director of |
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the Department of Code Compliance, and during this time she also |
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worked as a reserve chief deputy constable; when she returned to the |
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Dallas Marshal's Office as city marshal in 2008, she earned the |
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further distinction of becoming the first woman and the first |
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African American to hold that position; in addition, she has served |
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on a number of state and federal committees and received a lifetime |
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membership with the Texas Police Chiefs Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Marshal Morris holds a bachelor's degree in |
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political science from Dallas Baptist University and an associate's |
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degree in criminal justice from El Centro College; she is a licensed |
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Master Peace Officer and has been certified as a law enforcement |
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instructor and a defensive driving instructor; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to her professional responsibilities, |
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this dynamic woman has found time to give back to her community |
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through her support of the Children and Family Shelter, the Bridge |
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of Hope Foundation, the YMCA, the American Society for the |
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Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Hospice Foundation of |
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America; and |
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WHEREAS, Mary Morris's dedication, professionalism, and |
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commitment to preserving the safety of the public have greatly |
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benefited the people of Dallas and earned her the respect and |
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admiration of her fellow peace officers, and she may indeed reflect |
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with pride on a career well spent; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate City Marshal Mary Lynn Morris on |
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her retirement and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued |
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success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Marshal Morris as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |