TITLE: Honoring Gary Bledsoe of Austin for his contributions as president of the Texas NAACP.

SUMMARY: Honoring Gary Bledsoe of Austin for his contributions as president of the Texas NAACP.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, For three decades, Austin attorney Gary Bledsoe has rendered exceptional service as president of the Texas NAACP; and WHEREAS, Mr. Bledsoe earned his juris doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law, where he was president of the Class of 1976; his practice areas have included public interest, employment, and civil rights law, and in recognition of his legal acumen, he received a coveted AV professional rating from Martindale-Hubbell; he has also been awarded Lawyer of the Year honors from the Travis County Bar Association and several other organizations; and WHEREAS, This well-respected legal professional has long championed the work of the NAACP, and he has held the office of president of the Texas NAACP since being elected in 1991; he has additionally served on the NAACP's national board since 2003, and he currently chairs the organization's National Criminal Justice Committee; and WHEREAS, Through his affiliation with the NAACP, Mr. Bledsoe has been a staunch defender of civil rights; he handled cases involving allegations of discrimination against the Texas Department of Public Safety, and he further lent his expertise to the Austin Cedar Avenue case that led to widespread changes in how instances of police brutality are addressed; the landmark settlement for that case was used to create a scholarship program for college-bound minority youth, and Mr. Bledsoe also went on to successfully negotiate with the H-E-B supermarket chain to establish a scholarship program for African American students attending historically Black universities; and WHEREAS, In honor of his many achievements, Mr. Bledsoe has received the Kelly Alexander State President of the Year Award, the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Award for Legal Advocacy, and the Benjamin Hooks Keeper of the Flame Award, and he was inducted into the Houston Hall of Fame at Riverside General Hospital; and WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary tenure with the NAACP, Gary Bledsoe has done much to advance the causes of equality and justice in his community, state, and nation, and it is a pleasure to join his peers in recognizing him for his lifelong commitment to these ideals; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby honor Gary Bledsoe for his contributions as president of the Texas NAACP and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Bledsoe as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Reynolds Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1322 was adopted by the House on May 26, 2021, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House