Bill Text: TX HR2155 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the dedication of Ernest McGowen, Sr., Elementary School in the Houston Independent School District.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-05-23 - Reported enrolled [HR2155 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR2155-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 2155 |
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WHEREAS, On May 24, 2013, the Houston Independent School | ||
District is celebrating the renaming of Houston Gardens Elementary | ||
School in honor of the late Ernest McGowen, Sr., an admired civic | ||
leader, public servant, and clergyman; and | ||
WHEREAS, The first African American elected as a trustee of | ||
HISD and of Houston Community College, Reverend McGowen built on | ||
the gains of the civil rights movement and worked diligently to | ||
advance the cause of social justice; he was instrumental in the | ||
adoption of a school holiday observance for the birthday of | ||
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and in the hiring and promotion of | ||
African American administrators and the inclusion of minority | ||
vendors, contractors, and professionals in contract bidding; in | ||
addition, he advocated powerfully for better wages and working | ||
conditions for maintenance and food service employees and guided | ||
the establishment of the area's first vocational-technical high | ||
school; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1979, this dynamic Texan became the second | ||
African American elected to the Houston City Council, and over the | ||
course of a tenure that spanned 14 years, he helped to modernize the | ||
police department, secure pay parity for police officers and | ||
firefighters, and increase wages for sanitation workers and other | ||
municipal personnel; moreover, he played a key role in passage of | ||
the ordinance creating the city's minority- and women-owned | ||
business program and in the adoption of a paid holiday for | ||
Dr. King's birthday; and | ||
WHEREAS, Further demonstrating his commitment to the | ||
community, Reverend McGowen served for 12 years on the Houston | ||
Galveston Area Council, and he was its first elected African | ||
American president; in later years, he continued to benefit his | ||
fellow citizens through his service on the mayor's Ministerial | ||
Council, Transition Team, and Affirmative Action Committee; he was | ||
the first African American pastor in the Texas Methodist Conference | ||
appointed to lead a predominantly white church, Wesley United | ||
Methodist Church; and | ||
WHEREAS, Reverend McGowen passed away on August 26, 2012, at | ||
the age of 87, having helped break down racial barriers and build | ||
bridges to success for subsequent generations; his tremendous | ||
accomplishments continue to resonate in the city of Houston, and | ||
the renaming of this school is indeed a fitting tribute; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of Ernest McGowen, | ||
Sr., Elementary School and honor the life and work of Reverend | ||
McGowen. | ||
Thompson of Harris | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 2155 was adopted by the House on May | ||
22, 2013, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||