Bill Text: TX HR897 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: In memory of former Houston City Council member Ada Jean Edwards.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-04-03 - Reported enrolled [HR897 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HR897-Enrolled.html

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H.R. No. 897

R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The life of a legendary community leader and public
servant drew to a close with the passing of Ada Jean Edwards on
March 23, 2023, at the age of 80; and
WHEREAS, Born on January 7, 1943, Ada Edwards was raised by
her grandparents in San Diego, California; soon after moving to
Houston in 1979, she made a name for herself as the head of a
coalition of anti-apartheid protesters who persuaded the city and
the University of Houston to financially divest from South Africa;
she served as a field coordinator for the Harris County Democratic
Party in the 1990s, and she went on to cofound the AFL-CIO Community
Union Fund and to establish the Houston HIV/AIDS Action Coalition
and the Ida Delaney-Byron Gillum Justice Committee, which called
for greater police accountability; she also served on the boards of
organizations such as Mothers for Clean Air and the Joint City
County Commission on Children and Youth, in addition to hosting
news and public affairs talk shows on public radio; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Edwards made a successful bid for a seat on the
city council in 2001, and she represented District D for three
terms, from 2002 to 2008; over the course of her tenure, she chaired
council committees that addressed affordable housing, flooding
issues, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic; along the way, she demonstrated
a keen ability to communicate with people from both sides of the
aisle and to earn the trust of residents who had historically been
underrepresented, which helped make her a champion for the Third
Ward and Sunnyside neighborhoods and a powerful advocate for
progressive causes; following her tenure on the city council, she
continued to be active in civic affairs and was appointed by Mayor
Bill White to be the assistant director of Houston's Housing and
Community Development Department; and
WHEREAS, Blessed with a loving family, Ms. Edwards was
devoted to her 5 children and 11 grandchildren; her kind nature,
intellect, and sense of humor made her a joy to be around, and she
was a dear friend to many; and
WHEREAS, Ada Edwards devoted herself to the goal of making
Houston a better place for all, and her memory will be a continuing
source of inspiration in the years ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ada Jean Edwards and
extend deepest condolences to her family and friends; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ada
Edwards.
Thierry
Phelan Guerra Murr
Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allison Harless Noble
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Ashby Harrison Orr
Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bernal Herrero Perez
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bonnen Holland Price
Bowers Howard Ramos
Bryant Hull Raney
Buckley Hunter Raymond
Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Canales Kacal Schofield
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Cole Kitzman Shine
Collier Klick Slaton
Cook Kuempel Slawson
Cortez Lalani Smith
Craddick Lambert Smithee
Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
Darby Leach Stucky
Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
Dean Longoria Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
Dutton Lozano Thimesch
Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
Gates Meyer Turner
Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
Geren Moody Vasut
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
González of El Paso Morrison Wu
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 897 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on April 3, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House