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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 546
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In Memory |
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of |
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Roy H. Williams |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Roy H. Williams, who died March 18, |
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2017, at the age of 74; and |
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WHEREAS, Roy Williams was an exemplary citizen whose many |
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achievements as an advocate for civil rights made a difference in |
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the lives of the people of Dallas and served as an inspiration to |
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others; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a native of Longview, where he excelled at |
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school and began a lifelong commitment to civil rights by joining |
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those protesting the segregation practices in place at the local |
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Woolworth store's lunch counter; in 1959, he became president of |
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the Longview National Association for the Advancement of Colored |
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People Youth Council; and |
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WHEREAS, He attended Northeastern Junior College before |
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serving the nation as a member of the United States Army in |
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Germany; he moved to Dallas in the 1970s and again began to work |
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as an activist on such issues as police misconduct, apartheid, |
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and the lack of minority representation on the Dallas City |
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Council; and |
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WHEREAS, He played an important role in the passage of the |
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ordinance disallowing investment by the city in companies |
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associated with the apartheid government of South Africa or the |
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Soviet Union; he also served as vice chair of the Police and |
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Paramedic Complaints Committee, and he was known for his |
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meticulous preparation for appearances before the city council; and |
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WHEREAS, After an unsuccessful bid for election to the city |
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council in 1987, he became a coplaintiff in the lawsuit that |
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overturned the city's system for electing a portion of its |
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council members on an at-large basis on the grounds that the |
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process was prejudicial to minority voting rights; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of courage, determination, and compassion, |
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he gave unselfishly to others, and his commitment to equality for |
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all citizens and his enthusiasm for living each day to the |
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fullest will not be forgotten by his family, his many friends, |
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and those he inspired; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Roy H. Williams; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Roy Williams. |
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West |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 3, 2017, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |