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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are experiencing great sadness |
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with the passing of community leader Curtis James Smith of Dallas, |
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who died on July 30, 2020, at the age of 95; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Roy and Arbella Smith on January 18, 1925, |
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Curtis Smith grew up in Longview with three siblings, Roy, Nina, and |
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Ola; a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, Mr. Smith was the first |
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African American promoted to seaman first class; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Smith wed Kelcy Mae Williams in 1947, and the |
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couple shared an extraordinary and loving marriage that spanned 73 |
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years, a love story that signifies a lifetime of dedication and |
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commitment to one another and to their family; they were blessed |
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with two daughters, Curtis Marie and Melbra, and their family later |
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grew to include four grandchildren, Kristia, Christopher, Gerald, |
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and Curtis, and 10 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Smith enjoyed a 32-year career as a Sky Chief |
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manager with Braniff Airways; he went on to work as a Sky Chief |
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manager at American Airlines for 11 years before retiring; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Smith were some of the earliest |
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residents of the Hamilton Park community; Mr. Smith founded the |
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Hamilton Park Interorganizational Council and played a pivotal role |
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in desegregation; he was instrumental in establishing policies and |
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educational rights for African Americans within the Richardson |
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Independent School District and Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet |
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School, and he was appointed by a federal judge as the first chair |
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and organizer of the Richardson ISD Bi-Racial Committee following |
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the Brown v. Board of Education supreme court case; he was also a |
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precinct chair and a founding member of the Hamilton Park Civic |
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League; he was honored at the Hamilton Park High School 2010 |
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reunion, and he and his wife were named as a Dallas County Power |
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Couple; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Smith was a leading member of Hamilton Park |
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United Methodist Church, where he served as chair of the |
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state-licensed child care center and as a member of the Board of |
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Trustees Finance Committee and the United Methodist Men of The Park |
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ministry; in recognition of his leadership, the church's library |
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was named in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family and his community, |
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Curtis Smith made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless |
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fellow citizens, and his contributions and impact will be |
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remembered with admiration for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Curtis James Smith |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family, his |
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friends, and his many supporters; and, be 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 Curtis |
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Smith. |
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Turner of Dallas |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 404 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 25, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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