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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The death of Dr. Kendell Beck of Dallas on March 11, |
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2015, at the age of 81, brought a great loss to his family, friends, |
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and colleagues; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on August 19, 1933, Kendell Beck graduated as |
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the salutatorian of Booker T. Washington High School before earning |
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his bachelor's degree from Paul Quinn College; he went on to |
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complete a master's degree in education at Prairie View A&M |
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University, receive certificates in mathematics from East Texas |
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State University and communication from Texas A&M University, and |
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earn doctorates in ministry and philosophy from Vision |
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International University; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Beck was employed as a food inspector with the |
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federal government for a decade prior to embarking on a career in |
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education with the Dallas Independent School District; he worked in |
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the district for more than 30 years, teaching mathematics and |
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holding a number of important administrative positions, including |
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principal and director of alternative programs; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in his professional community, Dr. Beck was a |
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member of the Texas State Teachers Association, the National |
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Alliance of Black School Educators, the Texas Alliance of Black |
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School Educators, and the National Teachers Association, among |
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others; in addition, he helped raise scholarship funds for |
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Dallas-area students through his affiliation with the United Negro |
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College Fund; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Beck also gave freely of his time and energies |
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as president of the Paul Quinn College National Alumni Association, |
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and he was a board member and chair for Volunteers of America Texas; |
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a man of deep faith, he was a certified lay speaker for the United |
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Methodist Church and a valued congregant of St. Paul United |
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Methodist Church, which he served as a steward and trustee; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, Dr. Beck was recognized with many |
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awards and honors, such as the 2007 Outstanding Texan Award from the |
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Texas Legislative Black Caucus and the Presidential Citation from |
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the Paul Quinn College National Association for Equal Opportunity |
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in Higher Education; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, he enjoyed the love and |
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support of his wife, Dr. Mary Beck, and he took great pride in their |
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children, Kendell, Cheryl, Janice, Reginald, Taft, and Edward, and |
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in their eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Kendell Beck made a positive impact in countless |
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lives through his contributions as an educator and as a leader in |
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his community, and he leaves behind a record of service that his |
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loved ones can remember with pride; now, therefore, be 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 Dr. Kendell Beck |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Dr. Mary Beck; to his children, Kendell Beck Jr., Cheryl |
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White and her husband, Robert, Janice Beck, Reginald Beck, Taft |
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Wilson Jr. and his wife, Aletha, and Edward Wilson and his wife, |
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Henretta; to his grandchildren, Chinekwau Alexander, Dedrick and |
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Brittany White, and Daiquari, Taft, Rodrick, Tiffany, and Edward |
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Wilson; to his great-grandchildren, Kenadee, Kourtnee, Aryah, |
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Kamron, and Kyra; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, |
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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 |
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Dr. Kendell Beck. |