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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Dallas lost a renowned civic leader with |
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the passing of Roy H. Williams on March 18, 2017, at the age of 74; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Longview, Roy Williams became involved |
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in the civil rights movement at an early age; as a teenager, he |
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protested segregated lunch counters and bus stations in East Texas, |
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and in 1959, he was named president of the Longview NAACP Youth |
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Council; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating from high school, he attended |
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Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, and he went on |
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to join the U.S. Army and serve his country in Germany; following |
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his return to civilian life, he moved to New York and then to |
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Dallas, where he began working with other activists to address |
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crucial issues facing local minority groups; he guided the Police |
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and Paramedic Complaints Committee as its treasurer and vice chair, |
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and he took a stand against apartheid by helping to sever the city's |
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ties with South Africa; he also gave back to the community as the |
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founder of Rainbow Bridge, a nonprofit youth organization; and |
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WHEREAS, Although his long career in civil rights advocacy |
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was filled with many accomplishments, Mr. Williams is perhaps best |
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known for his role in rectifying the lack of minority |
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representation on the Dallas City Council; he and fellow activist |
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Marvin Crenshaw were plaintiffs in a landmark 1988 federal lawsuit |
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that eventually led to the establishment of the city's 14-1 plan, |
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under which council members are chosen in district rather than |
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citywide elections; the new boundaries went into effect for the |
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November 1991 election, resulting in a marked increase in the |
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number of minority candidates voted into office; and |
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WHEREAS, An inspiration to all who knew him, Roy Williams |
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devoted his life to advancing the mission of the civil rights |
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movement, and his contributions to the cause of social justice will |
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long resonate in Dallas, the Lone Star State, and beyond; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Roy H. Williams and |
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extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn his passing; and, be |
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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 Roy |
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Williams. |