Bill Text: TX HCR116 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Paying tribute to the memory of Thomas J. Lee, the first Asian American to serve in the Texas Legislature.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-5)

Status: (Passed) 2015-05-22 - Signed by the Governor [HCR116 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HCR116-Enrolled.html

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H.C.R. No. 116

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Fifty years ago this session, Thomas J. Lee of San
Antonio became the first Asian American to serve in the Texas
Legislature; and
WHEREAS, A native of Canton, China, Tom Lee moved to the
United States with his family at the age of eight; he grew up on San
Antonio's West Side, where he learned to speak English and Spanish
as well as Cantonese; during World War II, he was the first officer
of Chinese descent to serve in the U.S. Navy, and after the war he
remained active in the navy reserve at the rank of lieutenant
commander; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Lee studied at The University of Texas at
Austin, the University of Notre Dame, and St. Mary's University,
where he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1956 and a law
degree in 1960; he went on to become a successful attorney and
businessman in the Chinese community of San Antonio; and
WHEREAS, In 1964, Mr. Lee was elected to the Texas House of
Representatives, representing Bexar County in the 59th
Legislature; a Democrat, he served from 1965 until 1967, and he was
a member of the Insurance, Penitentiaries, and Revenue and Taxation
Committees, among others; he died in San Antonio on November 7,
1996, at the age of 73; and
WHEREAS, Through his service to the people of San Antonio and
the State of Texas, Tom Lee was a pioneer who helped open the door to
a more diverse and inclusive state legislature, and his legacy
continues to resonate to this day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Thomas J. Lee, the
first Asian American to serve in the Texas Legislature.
Wu Vo
Button Bernal
Farias Galindo
Gutierrez Larson
Martinez Fischer McClendon
Miller of Comal Minjarez
Villalba
Straus González Otto
Allen Guerra Paddie
Alonzo Guillen Parker
Alvarado Gutierrez Paul
Anchia Harless Peña
Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Herrero Phillips
Ashby Howard Pickett
Aycock Huberty Price
Bell Hughes Raney
Bernal Hunter Raymond
Blanco Isaac Reynolds
Bohac Israel Riddle
Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rinaldi
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis
Burns Keough Romero, Jr.
Burrows King of Hemphill Rose
Button King of Parker Sanford
Canales King of Taylor Schaefer
Capriglione King of Uvalde Schofield
Clardy Klick Schubert
Coleman Koop Shaheen
Collier Krause Sheets
Cook Kuempel Sheffield
Craddick Landgraf Simmons
Crownover Larson Simpson
Cyrier Laubenberg Smith
Dale Leach Smithee
Darby Longoria Spitzer
Davis of Dallas Lozano Springer
Davis of Harris Lucio III Stephenson
Deshotel Márquez Stickland
Dukes Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Elkins McClendon Tinderholt
Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Collin
Fallon Meyer Turner of Harris
Farias Miles Turner of Tarrant
Farney Miller of Comal VanDeaver
Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Villalba
Fletcher Minjarez Vo
Flynn Moody Walle
Frank Morrison White of Bell
Frullo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
Galindo Murphy Workman
Geren Murr Wray
Giddings Naishtat Wu
Goldman Nevárez Zedler
Gonzales Oliveira Zerwas
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 116 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 6, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 116 was adopted by the Senate on May
11, 2015.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor