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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, William Bates Jr., a longtime Houston attorney, has |
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demonstrated a notable commitment to the public good through his |
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leadership and service; and |
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WHEREAS, An alumnus of Ohio State University and a graduate |
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of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, "Randy" Bates works as |
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managing partner of Bates & Coleman, PC, the law practice that he |
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founded after earning his juris doctorate in 1981; at the firm, he |
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specializes in public finance, and he formerly counseled clients in |
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the areas of personal injury and criminal defense; and |
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WHEREAS, While meeting the obligations of his professional |
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career, Mr. Bates served for more than two decades on the board of |
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trustees for the Lone Star College System; in that role, he helped |
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provide stewardship and oversight to a community college system |
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with some 74,000 students and a budget of $250 million; he was |
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elected chair of the board by his fellow members for a total of |
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seven years, during which time he was instrumental in securing |
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credit upgrades for the system from both Moody's and Standard & |
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Poor's; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Bates has likewise earned distinction through |
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his involvement in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., an |
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international service organization that he has led as president |
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since 2011; he has held increasingly responsible positions in the |
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group, where his affiliation dates back to 1971; during his tenure |
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in its highest office, he has overseen the establishment and |
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implementation of the "Diamonds in the Rough" program, a national |
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campaign to foster academic and personal achievement among young |
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men of color, and he further led the fraternity in new and ongoing |
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efforts to support undergraduate members, guide youth to success, |
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and promote the health and well-being of the community; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his adult life, Randy Bates has |
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dedicated his time to endeavors that engage his desire to make a |
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difference, and his achievements make him an outstanding role model |
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to many people; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor William Bates Jr. for his years of public |
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service at the community and national levels and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for continued success with his important work; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Bates as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |