Bill Text: TX HR1163 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: In memory of Dallas civil rights activist Roy H. Williams.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-04-11 - Reported enrolled [HR1163 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR1163-Introduced.html
Bill Title: In memory of Dallas civil rights activist Roy H. Williams.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-04-11 - Reported enrolled [HR1163 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR1163-Introduced.html
85R18952 CJM-D | ||
By: Giddings | H.R. No. 1163 |
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WHEREAS, The city of Dallas lost a renowned civic leader with | ||
the passing of Roy H. Williams on March 18, 2017, at the age of 74; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, A native of Longview, Roy Williams became involved | ||
in the civil rights movement at an early age; as a teenager, he | ||
protested segregated lunch counters and bus stations in East Texas, | ||
and in 1959, he was named president of the Longview NAACP Youth | ||
Council; and | ||
WHEREAS, After graduating from high school, he attended | ||
Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, and he went on | ||
to join the U.S. Army and serve his country in Germany; following | ||
his return to civilian life, he moved to New York and then to | ||
Dallas, where he began working with other activists to address | ||
crucial issues facing local minority groups; he guided the Police | ||
and Paramedic Complaints Committee as its treasurer and vice chair, | ||
and he took a stand against apartheid by helping to sever the city's | ||
ties with South Africa; he also gave back to the community as the | ||
founder of Rainbow Bridge, a nonprofit youth organization; and | ||
WHEREAS, Although his long career in civil rights advocacy | ||
was filled with many accomplishments, Mr. Williams is perhaps best | ||
known for his role in rectifying the lack of minority | ||
representation on the Dallas City Council; he and fellow activist | ||
Marvin Crenshaw were plaintiffs in a landmark 1988 federal lawsuit | ||
that eventually led to the establishment of the city's 14-1 plan, | ||
under which council members are chosen in district rather than | ||
citywide elections; the new boundaries went into effect for the | ||
November 1991 election, resulting in a marked increase in the | ||
number of minority candidates voted into office; and | ||
WHEREAS, An inspiration to all who knew him, Roy Williams | ||
devoted his life to advancing the mission of the civil rights | ||
movement, and his contributions to the cause of social justice will | ||
long resonate in Dallas, the Lone Star State, and beyond; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Roy H. Williams and | ||
extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn his passing; and, be | ||
it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Roy | ||
Williams. |