TITLE: Honoring Martha Thomas and The Defensive Line for their efforts to prevent youth suicide.

SUMMARY: Honoring Martha Thomas and The Defensive Line for their efforts to prevent youth suicide.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Defensive Line is a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention, and the group's cofounder and chief education officer, Martha Thomas, is visiting the Capitol on May 1, 2025; and WHEREAS, A resident of Coppell, Mrs. Thomas helped establish The Defensive Line in 2021 after the tragic suicide of her 24-year-old daughter, Ella, in January 2018; cofounded with her husband, Chris Thomas, and their son, Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, The Defensive Line seeks to end the epidemic of youth suicide, especially for young people of color, by transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental health; and WHEREAS, After working in education for more than 30 years, Mrs. Thomas left teaching in 2022 to devote herself full-time to The Defensive Line; drawing on her insights into the realities of the classroom, she educates participants about suicide prevention through the organization's workshops, which guide teachers and leaders through the facts of youth suicide, particularly for people of color, and prepare them to address mental health crises, initiate difficult conversations, develop an action plan, and create a safe environment; Mrs. Thomas has led programming partnerships in the Dallas and Fort Worth Independent School Districts and at Baylor University and Stanford University, and she is a popular podcast guest and keynote speaker; she and her husband serve as faculty members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and are involved with Project ECHO, its telementoring program; and WHEREAS, The Defensive Line has called much-needed attention to the issue of youth suicide and to the actions that can be taken to help save lives, and it is a pleasure to join in recognizing Martha Thomas and her colleagues for their steadfast commitment to this worthy cause; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby honor Martha Thomas and The Defensive Line for their efforts to prevent youth suicide and extend to all those affiliated with the organization sincere best wishes for continued success with their important work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mrs. Thomas as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Garcia Hernandez Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 962 was adopted by the House on June 1, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House