TITLE: Honoring the El Dorado Social Club on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

SUMMARY: Honoring the El Dorado Social Club on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The El Dorado Social Club is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding at the Stafford Centre on February 7, 2025; and WHEREAS, This esteemed organization traces its roots to 1925, when a group of students at the old Colored High School on West Dallas Avenue in Houston was studying literature under the tutelage of Viola Webber Colvin; in that class, they read the poem "El Dorado" by American author Edgar Allan Poe and were so impressed by the story of the mythical city that they set about organizing a club with the same ideals it expressed; and WHEREAS, Joe Parker was appointed the club's first president, and its charter members selected the motto "Searching for El Dorado" to encapsulate their vision for the club and for themselves; the colors blue and gold were chosen to be its official colors, representing their commitment to integrity, their collective loyalty to the ideal of El Dorado, and their desire to lead lives of value to the community; and WHEREAS, In 1931, the club was restructured into a men's organization, and an auxiliary group called the Eldorettes was formed for the wives of club members; today, the group continues to preserve the legacy of its founders and to uphold the principles on which the organization was built, with each member dedicating himself to the poem's proposition that he must "Ride, boldly ride, over the Mountains of the Moon, down the Valley of the Shadow, in search of El Dorado"; and WHEREAS, Over the past century, the El Dorado Social Club has had a meaningful impact on both its members and the broader community, and it is truly a pleasure to join in marking this special milestone in its history; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby honor the El Dorado Social Club on the occasion of its 100th anniversary and extend to all those associated with this notable organization sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the El Dorado Social Club as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Dutton Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 168 was adopted by the House on February 5, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House