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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Countless lives were touched by the inspirational |
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leadership of Bishop Arthur LaDell Thomas of Waco, who passed away |
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on November 11, 2014, at the age of 81; and |
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WHEREAS, A. LaDell Thomas was born in Waco on August 13, 1933, |
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to Ira and Vinetta Thomas; answering the call to the ministry, he |
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accepted his first pastoral assignment at a rural church in |
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Caldwell; he felt drawn back to his hometown to continue his work in |
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1956, and he was later named superintendent for the Central Texas |
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Pentecostal District; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1987, A. LaDell Thomas was appointed and |
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consecrated a bishop in the Church of God in Christ; while he |
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devoted his life to spreading a message of faith, he was involved in |
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the civil rights struggle in segregated McLennan County; active in |
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the NAACP, he joined other African American leaders in pressing for |
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greater minority representation on the Waco City Council, and he |
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encouraged other citizens to take to the polls as a means of |
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ensuring that their voices were heard; and |
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WHEREAS, A former college instructor and school |
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administrator, Bishop Thomas believed fervently in the power of |
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education in securing a better life; he was the first African |
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American to serve on the board of the La Vega Independent School |
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District, and he personally counseled young people in his effort to |
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steer them on the right path; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed clergyman led Deliverance and Praise |
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Temple Church of God in Christ in Harker Heights as pastor for close |
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to a quarter-century; guiding a congregation that was primarily |
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composed of military personnel, he was admired for his wisdom and |
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for the humor that he often incorporated into his lessons; during |
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his long tenure, he was present for the deployments and homecomings |
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of numerous members of his flock, and he continued to correspond |
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with them while they were away in distant lands; and |
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WHEREAS, Bishop Thomas was the devoted husband of Elnora |
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Thomas, with whom he lovingly raised six children; as a father, he |
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stressed the need for perseverance in overcoming challenges in |
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life, and he knew the delight of seeing his children follow in his |
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footsteps to enter work in the ministry; when asked, he could always |
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be counted on to attend prayer services and events within his |
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community, and he was an empathetic listener who ensured that those |
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who came to him felt valued and appreciated; and |
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WHEREAS, Though he did not seek recognition for his |
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achievements, Bishop A. LaDell Thomas was renowned among his fellow |
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citizens as a dedicated spiritual leader and a dynamic force for |
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good; he will be greatly missed by all who walked with him along his |
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journey, and the compassion and insight that he shared will remain a |
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source of comfort and joy for many years to come; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Arthur LaDell |
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Thomas and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Elnora Massey Thomas; to his children, Bishop A. LaDell |
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Thomas Jr. and his wife, Tihara, Supervisor Joyce L. Campbell and |
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her husband, John, District Missionary Nora Kay Thomas, |
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Superintendent Vayne Thomas and his wife, Yolanda, Pastor Reginald |
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K. Thomas Sr. and his wife, Johnnie, and Superintendent Richard L. |
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Thomas Sr. and his wife, Lillian; to his grandchildren, |
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great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; and to his |
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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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of A. LaDell |
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Thomas. |
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Anderson of McLennan |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1269 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on April 9, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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