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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Locally owned and operated enterprises that build a |
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record of dependability and longevity enjoy a special degree of |
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esteem in their communities, and the Williams Chicken chain of |
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restaurants in North Texas is celebrating its 30th anniversary in |
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2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Company founder and CEO Hiawatha Williams got his |
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start in the restaurant business when he went to work for a |
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nationwide fast-food chain while attending Paul Quinn College; he |
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remained with that company for 18 years before striking out on his |
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own in 1987 and opening the first Williams Chicken location in South |
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Dallas; and |
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WHEREAS, In the three decades since, Williams Chicken has |
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grown to include 40 stores, which provide jobs for more than 500 |
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employees; these restaurants, with their distinctive yellow and |
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orange color scheme, have become popular destinations for fans of |
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fried chicken across North Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of strong religious faith, Mr. Williams has |
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served as a mentor for many of his employees, and he also supports a |
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number of community outreach efforts to benefit young people and |
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education; as a pioneering African American entrepreneur, he has |
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been featured in such publications as Black Enterprise, Our Texas, |
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and the Dallas Business Journal, which presented him with a |
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Minority Business Leader Award; and |
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WHEREAS, By creating jobs and helping to strengthen the |
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economic environment of North Texas, Williams Chicken is |
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contributing to the vitality of that region, and it is fitting that |
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the anniversary of its founding be recognized; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 30th anniversary of Williams |
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Chicken and extend to Hiawatha Williams and everyone associated |
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with the restaurants sincere best wishes for continued success; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Williams as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |