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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Ellis Davis, Jr., a respected coach and teacher in |
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the Dallas public schools, passed away on March 13, 2013, at the age |
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of 81, and the loss is keenly felt by all who were privileged to know |
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him; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on October 11, 1931, in Tyler to Ellis Davis, |
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Sr., and Ara Williams Davis, Ellis Davis, Jr., graduated from |
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Emmett Scott High School in his hometown; he served his country in |
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the United States Army and earned a bachelor's degree from Bishop |
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College, where he was active in the Omega Psi Phi fraternity; later, |
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he received a master's degree in education from North Texas State |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, After settling in Dallas, Mr. Davis became a member |
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of Good Street Baptist Church, and he served the congregation as a |
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deacon, as an athletic director, and as a member of the outreach |
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ministry and the Good Street Charitable Foundation; and |
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WHEREAS, During his long career with the Dallas Independent |
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School District, Mr. Davis taught classes at the elementary, middle |
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school, and high school levels, and he became particularly well |
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known for his distinguished service as the basketball coach at |
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Roosevelt High School; after fielding the school's first team in |
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1963, he went on to establish a 641-128 record over the course of 23 |
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years; one of the highlights of his decades on the sideline came in |
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1972, when the Mustangs claimed the 4A state championship and |
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scored a record-high 111 points in a semifinal game; he also guided |
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Roosevelt to the state tournament on another occasion, and he |
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placed a strong emphasis on helping his athletes to excel in the |
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classroom as well as on the court; revered by his players and his |
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peers, he was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame in |
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1996, and his name graces a Dallas ISD basketball facility and a |
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basketball tournament; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Davis married the love of his life, Bettye |
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Dennis, in 1957, and they shared a rewarding relationship that |
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spanned more than half a century; he became the father of three |
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sons, Dennis Davis, Rodney Davis, and Ellis Davis III, who preceded |
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his father in death, as well as a daughter, Marriette Spates; with |
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the passing years, he saw his family grow to include five |
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grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Ellis Davis, Jr., devoted himself to the worthy goal |
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of helping students to learn the values of responsibility and hard |
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work, and he will long be remembered for the integrity that he |
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demonstrated in all of his endeavors; now, therefore, be 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 life of Ellis Davis, Jr., and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Bettye Davis; to his sons, Dennis Wayne Davis and Rodney Dwain |
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Davis; to his daughter, Marriette Spates; to his grandchildren, |
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Ellis, Juston, Rodney, Daryan, and Anjouly; to his daughter-in-law, |
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Valerie Davis; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ellis |
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Davis, Jr. |
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Rose |
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Davis of Dallas |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1365 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on April 17, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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