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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Houston lost an accomplished physician |
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and civic leader with the passing of Dr. Rogers O'Neil Whitmire on |
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May 1, 2015, at the age of 69; and |
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WHEREAS, Rogers Whitmire was born in Houston on August 30, |
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1945, to Joseph and Rosa Fae Whitmire; a member of the Booker |
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T. Washington High School Class of 1963, he graduated summa cum |
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laude with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Prairie View A&M |
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College in 1967 and went on to complete a master's degree and his |
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M.D. at Michigan State University; in addition, he earned the |
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distinction of becoming the first African American to complete the |
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obstetrics and gynecology program at Baylor College of Medicine; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In 1977, Dr. Whitmire became the first African |
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American to establish a private practice at the Texas Medical |
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Center, and he later moved his office to South Main Street, where he |
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continued to work until his passing; during a career that spanned |
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nearly four decades, he treated countless area residents and |
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delivered more than 5,000 babies; he further distinguished himself |
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as chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at CHRISTUS |
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St. Joseph Hospital; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to his community, Dr. Whitmire |
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served on the board of directors of the NAACP Houston Branch for |
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many years, and he was a life member of that organization and of |
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as well as a longtime congregant of |
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Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Whitmire shared a rewarding marriage with his |
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wife, Elsie, and he counted among his many blessings a treasured |
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family that included two children, Michael and Judith, and three |
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grandchildren, Savannah, Sascha, and Solomon; and |
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WHEREAS, Rogers Whitmire was a significant asset to his |
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community and an inspiring role model to many, and he leaves behind |
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a record of service that his loved ones can remember with pride; |
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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 life of Dr. Rogers O'Neil |
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Whitmire and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Elsie Whitmire; to his children, Michael |
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Whitmire and Dr. Judith Enders; to his grandchildren, Savannah, |
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Sascha, and Solomon Enders; to his brother, Dr. Gerald Whitmire; |
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and to his many 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 Dr. Rogers |
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O'Neil Whitmire. |
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Farrar |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2503 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 6, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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