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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Dallas lost an esteemed community |
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leader with the passing of Dr. Maxine Thornton-Reese on August 15, |
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2025, at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Mack and Lucille Thornton, the |
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former Maxine Thornton was born in Dallas on December 7, 1938, and |
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she grew up with the companionship of two sisters, Thelma and |
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Bobbye; as one of the first African American students to attend |
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North Texas State College, her experiences during the Civil Rights |
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movement were documented in the university's oral history project; |
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she earned her bachelor's degree in 1961 and her master's degree in |
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1967 before attaining her doctor of education degree from Texas A&M |
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University-Commerce in 1982; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of a long and rewarding career with |
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the Dallas Independent School District, Dr. Thornton-Reese served |
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as a mathematics teacher, counselor, assistant principal, |
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principal, and dean of instruction; after retiring from education, |
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she embarked on a second career in civic service, and during her |
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eight years representing District 4 on the Dallas City Council, her |
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many accomplishments included helping to improve public amenities |
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and expand after-school programs; she also served on a number of |
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committees and boards, among them the Dallas Citizens Police Review |
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Board and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board; and |
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WHEREAS, Further engaged in her community, |
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Dr. Thornton-Reese was involved in numerous organizations, and she |
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served as an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., for |
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nearly five decades; in 2018, she received the Sojourner Truth |
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Award from the South Central District of the National Association |
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of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc.; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Thornton-Reese was the proud mother of a |
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daughter, Lynnetta; over the years, her cherished family grew to |
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include four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Maxine Thornton-Reese was a devoted mother and |
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grandmother and a significant asset to her community, and her |
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commitment to her loved ones and to the city of Dallas will be |
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remembered and admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Dr. Maxine Thornton-Reese and extend sincere condolences to the |
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members of her family: to her daughter, Lynnetta M. Williams; to her |
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grandchildren, Maxine, Robert, Jasmine, and Roderick Williams; to |
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her great-grandchildren, Masego and Mekonnen Carroll and Dakotah |
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and Nevaeh Williams; and to her other relatives and friends; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Maxine |
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Thornton-Reese. |