Bill Text: TX SR81 | 2011 | 82nd Legislature 1st Special | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Albert Louis Lipscomb of Dallas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-06-22 - Reported enrolled [SR81 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-SR81-Enrolled.html
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In Memory | ||
of | ||
Albert Louis Lipscomb | ||
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the | ||
citizens of Dallas in mourning the loss of civil rights leader | ||
and former city councilman Albert Louis Lipscomb, who died June | ||
18, 2011, at the age of 86; and | ||
WHEREAS, Albert Louis Lipscomb was born June 15, 1925, in | ||
East Dallas; he graduated from Lincoln High School before serving | ||
in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Lipscomb returned to Dallas in 1950 and became | ||
head waiter at the executive dining room of the First National | ||
Bank; he also waited tables at some of the finest restaurants in | ||
Dallas, including La Tunisia, the Safari Club, and the Adolphus | ||
and Baker Hotels; and | ||
WHEREAS, He began his activities in public service as a | ||
neighborhood organizer for the Dallas Community Action Agency, a | ||
part of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty; he was also an | ||
organizer for the Dallas chapter of the Southern Christian | ||
Leadership Conference; as a grassroots community organizer, he | ||
helped homeowners in South Dallas resist displacement caused by | ||
the city's expansion of Fair Park and honed the political skills | ||
that would make him a force to be reckoned with for decades to | ||
come; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1971, Mr. Lipscomb was the first African | ||
American to run for mayor of Dallas, finishing third in a field of | ||
10; the same year, he was lead plaintiff in the lawsuit that | ||
eventually led to the creation of single-member districts for the | ||
Dallas City Council, overturning the city's system of at-large | ||
districts and winning greater representation for minority | ||
constituents; he went on to be elected to the council in 1984 and | ||
served a total of 15 years; as a councilman, he worked to improve | ||
living conditions, reduce crime, and promote better relations | ||
between community residents and police; and | ||
WHEREAS, Unafraid of controversy when he knew he was | ||
working for a just cause, he was known for his confrontational | ||
style and his direct approach; Mr. Lipscomb was an outspoken | ||
defender of civil rights, and he worked on a wide variety of | ||
issues that affected his community, including police misconduct, | ||
bus fare increases, and the jury-selection process; and | ||
WHEREAS, He founded the South Dallas Information Center to | ||
help residents with problems related to poverty and | ||
discrimination, and he also helped to found many issue-based | ||
groups, such as the Black Citizens for Justice, Law, and Order; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, A man of courage, determination, and strength, he | ||
played a vital role in advancing the cause of civil rights in | ||
Dallas, and his generosity, his forthrightness, and his | ||
enthusiasm for living each day to the fullest will not be | ||
forgotten by those who knew him; and | ||
WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and | ||
grandfather, and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured | ||
forever by his family and countless friends; now, therefore, be | ||
it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd | ||
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby extend sincere | ||
condolences to the bereaved family of Albert Louis Lipscomb: his | ||
devoted wife, Lovie Marie Lipscomb; his daughters, Jacquelyn | ||
McDonald, Eyelette Lipscomb, Donette Zeno, Alva Smith, and | ||
LaVette Dudley; his sons, Noel, Jeffrey, and Jesse Lipscomb; his | ||
brother, Thomas Lipscomb; and his 14 grandchildren, 15 | ||
great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; and, be | ||
it further | ||
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
memory of Albert Louis Lipscomb. | ||
West | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on June 22, 2011, by a | ||
rising vote. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |