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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 90th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed |
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cause for celebration, and Jewell McDade McGowen of Houston is |
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marking this significant milestone in her life on April 29, 2019, in |
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the company of family and friends; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Hempstead in 1929, the former Jewell McDade |
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is the daughter of Willie Mose and Leola McDade, and she grew up |
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with two siblings, Joe and Wilma; as a student at Prairie View A&M |
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University, she met the love of her life, Ernest B. McGowen; they |
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married and became the parents of four children, Ernest, Jewell |
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Janis, Cynthia Elaine, and Larry Keith; with the passing years, she |
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has been blessed with 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. McGowen holds a bachelor's degree in business |
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education from Texas Southern University and a master's degree in |
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counseling and guidance from Prairie View A&M University; for more |
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than four decades, she was a teacher and guidance counselor for the |
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Houston Independent School District, serving at W. E. Miller Jr. |
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High School, Francis Scott Key Middle School, and the High School |
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for Health Professions; she received several HISD Master Teacher |
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and Counselor of the Year Awards, as well as the district's Harriet |
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Tubman Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Committed to helping young people achieve their full |
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potential, Mrs. McGowen joined with her husband to found a fine |
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arts development program, the Northeast Cultural Arts Council; she |
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has been very active in civic life, serving as state treasurer of |
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the Texas Democratic Party, as a Harris County precinct chair, and |
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as the inaugural president of the Houston Black American Democrats; |
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in addition, she was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to the |
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Board of Law Examiners, and she has served on the advisory boards of |
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such organizations as Julia C. Hester House, True Blue Community |
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Endowment, Alley Theatre, and the Greater Houston Women's |
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Foundation; she is a life member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the |
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Houston YWCA, a charter member of the Houston Metropolitan Chapter |
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of the National Congress of Black Women, and a congregant of Wesley |
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United Methodist Church, where she serves as worship chair; her |
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many civic accolades include the Variety Club's Cinderella Award; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Admired by all for her contributions to education |
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and to the wider community, Jewell McGowen is a source of enduring |
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inspiration, and it is a pleasure to join in honoring her on this |
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joyous occasion; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Jewell McDade McGowen on her 90th |
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birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued |
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happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mrs. McGowen as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |