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 | ||
