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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the death of the Reverend Monsignor Patrick Roland |
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Wells of Houston on May 11, 2023, at the age of 92; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Luther and Stella Wells, Patrick Wells |
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was born in Ames, Texas, on April 1, 1931; he served in the U.S. Air |
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Force, rising to the rank of staff sergeant, and went on to pursue |
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an academic career; after completing a doctorate in pharmaceutical |
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science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he taught at Fordham |
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University and became the first Black faculty member at the |
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Pharmacy; he then served |
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with distinction for many years as dean of the College of Pharmacy |
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at Texas Southern University, and he was the editor of the Journal |
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of the National Pharmaceutical Association and active in a number |
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of professional organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement from TSU in 1990, Monsignor |
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Wells earned a master of divinity degree from Sacred Heart School of |
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Theology in Wisconsin; he was ordained as a priest in 1993 and |
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served from then until 2006 as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi |
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Catholic Church in Houston; known for his insightful, empathetic, |
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and engaging sermons, he traveled the country to speak to Catholic |
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groups, and he was dedicated to helping those in need beyond the |
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church walls; he had a wonderful sense of humor and a rare ability |
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to connect with people from all walks of life; and |
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WHEREAS, Monsignor Wells was a founding member of the Unity |
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Explosion-Houston Conference, focused on Black Catholic liturgy |
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and ministry; moreover, he assisted Black Catholic seminarians in |
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their vocation journeys; among other leadership roles, he was a |
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consultant to the board of the National Black Catholic Apostolate |
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for Life and a longtime member of the National Black Catholic Clergy |
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Caucus and the Knights of Peter Claver; he was a chaplain for |
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sailors and served in that capacity on cruise ships as well; his |
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final assignment was at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in |
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Port Isabel; in 2017, he retired to a priests' community; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his religious calling, Monsignor |
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Wells enriched the lives of innumerable people through his warmth, |
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wisdom, and compassion, and his contributions will continue to be a |
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source of inspiration for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Reverend |
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Monsignor Patrick Roland Wells and extend sincere sympathy to the |
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members of his family: to his son, Henry Gaddis, and his wife, |
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Neyluz; to his grandchildren, Aziza Astrid, Xonzy, Henry, and |
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Juliana; to his sister-in-law, Bennie Wells; and to his many other |
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relatives and friends; 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 the |
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Reverend Monsignor Patrick Roland Wells. |