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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, State Representative Harold V. Dutton, Jr., of |
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Houston is celebrating his 80th birthday on February 17, 2025, |
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providing a fitting opportunity to honor this exemplary legislator |
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for his four decades of service in the Texas House; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of the Fifth Ward neighborhood in Houston, |
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Harold Dutton graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School, and he |
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earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Texas Southern |
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University and a juris doctor degree from the Thurgood Marshall |
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School of Law; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dutton enjoyed a rewarding career at Conoco, |
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where he held an executive management position in corporate |
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planning and economic analysis; he also served as executive |
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director of the Julia C. Hester House and as president of Four Star |
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Broadcasting, and he later obtained a license to operate an |
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independent UHF-TV station, TV-67, which began airing in the |
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Houston area in 1986; a skilled attorney, he operates a |
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Houston-based law firm, and he is a former adjunct professor at the |
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TSU Law School; his professional affiliations include the Texas Bar |
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Association, the Houston Bar Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers |
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Association, and the American Association for Justice; and |
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WHEREAS, A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Dutton began his tenure in |
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the Texas House of Representatives on January 8, 1985, and he is |
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currently serving his 21st term at the statehouse; a dedicated |
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champion for his constituents in House District 142, he has |
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supported a number of important causes, such as establishing the |
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first statutory program to assist women and minority-owned |
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businesses, enhancing public education, and creating incentives to |
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improve the availability and affordability of property insurance in |
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traditionally underserved areas; he has also sponsored bills to |
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establish the state's annual sales tax holiday, compensate |
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individuals who are wrongfully convicted, and revamp the juvenile |
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justice system; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Representative Dutton has held a |
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number of leadership roles, including chair of the Juvenile Justice |
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and Family Issues Committee, the Urban Affairs Committee, the Texas |
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Legislative Black Caucus, and the 25-member Harris County |
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Legislative Delegation; during the 87th Legislative Session, he |
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became the first African American chair of the Committee on Public |
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Education; most recently, he has been assigned to the Judiciary and |
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Civil Jurisprudence Committee and the Public Education Committee; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Representative Dutton has received the Lifetime |
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Achievement Award from the Urban Enrichment Institute, and he was |
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named Legislator of the Year by the Texas Municipal League as well |
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as a Distinguished Alumnus by the TSU School of Business; he has |
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been involved in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and he is a 32nd Degree |
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Mason and a member of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, where he |
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serves as an usher; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all else, Representative Dutton treasures |
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time spent with his loved ones; he is the proud father of seven |
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children, Melonie, Harold, Melissa, Peter, Jon Harold, Nicholas, |
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and Jeremy, and he has had the pleasure of seeing his family grow to |
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include eight grandchildren, Tatum, Therron, Aya, Allen, Artis, |
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Peter, Peyden, and Pierce; and |
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WHEREAS, Harold Dutton has made a positive difference in the |
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lives of countless Texans through his outstanding contributions as |
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a legislator and civic leader, and it is truly a pleasure to join in |
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marking this significant milestone; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate State Representative Harold V. |
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Dutton, Jr., on the occasion of his 80th birthday and extend to him |
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sincere appreciation for his four decades of service in the Texas |
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House; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Representative Dutton as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |