TITLE: Honoring Aaronetta Pierce of San Antonio for her civic leadership.

SUMMARY: Honoring Aaronetta Pierce of San Antonio for her civic leadership.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Aaronetta Pierce of San Antonio has greatly benefited her fellow citizens as a dynamic advocate for African American art, culture, and history; and WHEREAS, In early 2021, Mrs. Pierce was appointed as one of the tri-chairs of the Alamo Citizens Advisory Committee; the committee was established by the city council to create a vision and guiding principles for the redevelopment of Alamo Plaza and the surrounding area; traditionally serving as the city's central public forum, the plaza includes a civil rights landmark, the 100-year-old Woolworth Building, which was the site of the South's first peaceful desegregation of a lunch counter; Mrs. Pierce has championed its preservation as a prominent member of the Coalition for the Woolworth Building; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Pierce has been active in the community for decades; in 1985, she became the first Black woman appointed to the Texas Commission on the Arts; she chaired the Martin Luther King City/County Commission as it organized the city's inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, and she also chaired a blue-ribbon committee that led to the creation of the city's Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs; as a member of the San Antonio Museum Association board, she was instrumental in bringing the first important survey of African American art to the city; she and her husband, Dr. Joseph A. Pierce Jr., founded Premier Artworks to promote the work of African American artists and authors across the country; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Mrs. Pierce has served on the boards of a host of worthy organizations, including the San Antonio Performing Arts Association, the San Antonio Area Foundation, the Witte Museum, the Spurs Foundation, and United Way; among numerous accolades, she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1993; and WHEREAS, Aaronetta Pierce has made a lasting, positive imprint on San Antonio through her wide-ranging contributions, and she continues to dedicate herself to the betterment of the city; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby honor Aaronetta Pierce for her civic leadership and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mrs. Pierce as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Gervin-Hawkins Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1963 was adopted by the House on May 31, 2021, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House