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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 80th birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly |
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cause for celebration, and Thomas James Patterson Sr. is reaching |
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that impressive milestone on June 29, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Hannah Lee Barton in Waxahachie in 1937, |
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T. J. Patterson graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in |
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Wichita Falls and attended Bishop College in Marshall, where he |
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earned his degree in 1954; while visiting Lubbock, he met his future |
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wife, Bobbie Gean Bailey, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage, |
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until her death in 2012; the couple raised three children, Avis |
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Elise, Thomas James, and Shelia Renee; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Patterson joined the armed forces in 1961 and |
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served for 13 months in Vietnam; after returning to civilian life in |
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Lubbock, he embarked on a career in education, initially teaching |
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at Mary and Mac Private School; later, for much of the 1970s, he |
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served as assistant to the dean of the College of Business at Texas |
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Tech University; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan became the first African |
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American to hold elected public office in Lubbock when he won a seat |
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representing District 2 on the city council in 1984; he served in |
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that post for 20 years, and during his tenure, he also became the |
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first African American in Lubbock to hold the office of mayor pro |
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tempore; in addition, Mr. Patterson served as the first black |
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president of the Texas Municipal League, and he founded and served |
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as president of the Association of Black City Council members; and |
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WHEREAS, A longtime champion of civil rights and the black |
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community, T. J. Patterson cofounded the Southwest Digest, which |
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has given voice to the concerns and perspectives of African |
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Americans in northwest Texas since its inception in 1977; over the |
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years, he has also led nearly 100 local marches against violence and |
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drugs, and every Christmas for the past 22 years, he has shared a |
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message of hope with inmates of the Lubbock County Jail; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to a life of service, Mr. Patterson |
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has received a host of accolades in recognition of his efforts to |
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help others and to better his community; his honors include being |
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named Texas Tech's Man of the Year by the university's student |
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yearbook, La Ventana, and having a library, now known as the Bobbie |
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Gean and T. J. Patterson Public Library, dedicated in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Respected and admired by all those who are |
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privileged to know him, T. J. Patterson may reflect with great |
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satisfaction on a lifetime of achievement, and it is indeed a |
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pleasure to join his many friends and loved ones in honoring him on |
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this memorable occasion; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Thomas James Patterson Sr. on his |
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80th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; |
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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. Patterson as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Davis of Dallas |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1915 was adopted by the House on May |
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12, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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