Bill Text: TX HR404 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Curtis James Smith of Dallas.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-30 - Reported enrolled [HR404 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR404-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 404 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Family and friends are experiencing great sadness | ||
| with the passing of community leader Curtis James Smith of Dallas, | ||
| who died on July 30, 2020, at the age of 95; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born to Roy and Arbella Smith on January 18, 1925, | ||
| Curtis Smith grew up in Longview with three siblings, Roy, Nina, and | ||
| Ola; a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, Mr. Smith was the first | ||
| African American promoted to seaman first class; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Smith wed Kelcy Mae Williams in 1947, and the | ||
| couple shared an extraordinary and loving marriage that spanned 73 | ||
| years, a love story that signifies a lifetime of dedication and | ||
| commitment to one another and to their family; they were blessed | ||
| with two daughters, Curtis Marie and Melbra, and their family later | ||
| grew to include four grandchildren, Kristia, Christopher, Gerald, | ||
| and Curtis, and 10 great-grandchildren; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Smith enjoyed a 32-year career as a Sky Chief | ||
| manager with Braniff Airways; he went on to work as a Sky Chief | ||
| manager at American Airlines for 11 years before retiring; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Smith were some of the earliest | ||
| residents of the Hamilton Park community; Mr. Smith founded the | ||
| Hamilton Park Interorganizational Council and played a pivotal role | ||
| in desegregation; he was instrumental in establishing policies and | ||
| educational rights for African Americans within the Richardson | ||
| Independent School District and Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet | ||
| School, and he was appointed by a federal judge as the first chair | ||
| and organizer of the Richardson ISD Bi-Racial Committee following | ||
| the Brown v. Board of Education supreme court case; he was also a | ||
| precinct chair and a founding member of the Hamilton Park Civic | ||
| League; he was honored at the Hamilton Park High School 2010 | ||
| reunion, and he and his wife were named as a Dallas County Power | ||
| Couple; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Smith was a leading member of Hamilton Park | ||
| United Methodist Church, where he served as chair of the | ||
| state-licensed child care center and as a member of the Board of | ||
| Trustees Finance Committee and the United Methodist Men of The Park | ||
| ministry; in recognition of his leadership, the church's library | ||
| was named in his honor; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family and his community, | ||
| Curtis Smith made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless | ||
| fellow citizens, and his contributions and impact will be | ||
| remembered with admiration for years to come; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Curtis James Smith | ||
| and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family, his | ||
| friends, and his many supporters; 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 Curtis | ||
| Smith. | ||
| Turner of Dallas | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 404 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on March 25, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
