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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Those Texans who give freely of their time and |
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talents to benefit their fellow citizens make the world a better |
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place through their actions and their example, and James A. |
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Washington of Dallas is being recognized for his exceptional |
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community service by being named a recipient of a 2015 Profiles in |
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Leadership Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Washington graduated with a bachelor's degree in |
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English and instructional media from Southern University and A&M |
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College in Baton Rouge in 1971 and subsequently earned a master's |
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degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin in 1973 as a |
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Danforth Fellow; he additionally served in the Woodrow Wilson |
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National Fellowship Foundation's Administrative Internship Program |
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for developing colleges; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Washington worked in public relations for the |
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Dallas Ballet and the American Heart Association before founding |
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Focus Communications Group in 1980; nine years later, he became |
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co-owner of one of the largest African American weekly newspapers |
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in North Texas, the Dallas Weekly, which he currently oversees as |
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chief executive officer; he is also president and general manager |
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of the Atlanta Voice in Georgia; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to his community, Mr. Washington has |
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served as an advisor to the Citizens Charter Review Committee, the |
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Census Education Committee, and the American Red Cross Public |
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Education Committee, and he has held appointments to the mayor's |
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task forces on child care, youth services, and Fair Park; he has |
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further distinguished himself through service on the boards of |
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directors of numerous organizations, including the Oak Cliff, |
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Dallas Black, and Greater Dallas Chambers of Commerce, the Dallas |
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Theater Center, the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the Dallas |
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Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the Dallas Citizens Council, the |
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United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the National Newspaper |
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Publishers Association; moreover, he has chaired the Fair Park |
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Merchants Association and cochaired the Dallas Together Forum, and |
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he has sat on advisory committees of the Dallas Opera, the Dallas |
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Independent School District, Guaranty Federal Bank, and |
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NationsBank; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his civic involvement, |
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Mr. Washington was named the 1986 Man of the Year by the Dallas |
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Metropolitan Club of the National Association of Negro Business and |
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Professional Women's Clubs and was presented with a 1985 Quest for |
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Success Award by the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce; he has also |
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been honored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, The Links, |
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Incorporated, the United Way, the Dallas Independent School |
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District, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, the Daniel |
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"Chappie" James Learning Center, the NAACP, and radio stations KKDA |
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and KRLD; and |
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WHEREAS, The strength and unity of our cities are enhanced by |
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the devoted efforts of individuals such as Jim Washington, whose |
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tireless work has contributed immeasurably to the quality of life |
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in Dallas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate James A. Washington on his receipt |
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of a 2015 Profiles in Leadership Award and commend him on his |
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exemplary record of civic engagement; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Washington as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |