Bill Text: TX HR223 | 2011 | 82nd Legislature 1st Special | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of civil rights pioneer and political leader Percy Ellis Sutton.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-05 - Reported enrolled [HR223 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR223-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 223 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The nation lost a trailblazing leader with the death | ||
| of San Antonio native Percy Ellis Sutton, whose remarkable life | ||
| drew to a close on December 26, 2009, at the age of 89; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The son of a former slave, Mr. Sutton became one of | ||
| New York City's most influential figures, distinguishing himself in | ||
| the military, the law, business, and public service; he mentored | ||
| and inspired several generations of African American activists and | ||
| politicians, including former New York mayor David Dinkins, who | ||
| once stated, "I stand on the shoulders of Percy Ellis Sutton"; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born on November 24, 1920, Mr. Sutton was the | ||
| youngest child of educators Lillian Viola Sutton and | ||
| Samuel J. Sutton, Sr.; as a boy, he worked hard on the family's farm | ||
| in Prairie View and joined his father in the fight for civil rights, | ||
| passing out leaflets for the NAACP in the 1930s, despite the risk to | ||
| his personal safety; he attended Tuskegee University, Hampton | ||
| University, and Prairie View A&M University before interrupting his | ||
| education to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II; | ||
| his service as an intelligence officer with the famed Tuskegee | ||
| Airmen brought him two combat stars, and he went on to serve his | ||
| country again during the Korean War, attaining the rank of captain; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, The GI Bill enabled Mr. Sutton to enroll in Columbia | ||
| Law School, and he went on to earn his degree at Brooklyn Law School | ||
| while holding down two full-time jobs, as a subway conductor and a | ||
| postal employee; teaming with his brother Oliver, he opened a law | ||
| practice in Harlem in 1953 and counted Malcolm X and boxing legend | ||
| Sugar Ray Robinson among his first clients; as the civil rights | ||
| movement gained momentum, he represented hundreds of protesters in | ||
| the South and was himself arrested as a Freedom Rider; later, he | ||
| assumed leadership of the New York City branch of the NAACP; and | ||
| WHEREAS, During the 1950s, Mr. Sutton began devoting his | ||
| enormous energy and talent to the Democratic Party and participated | ||
| in numerous campaigns; he won election to the New York State | ||
| Assembly in 1964 and then served as president of the Borough of | ||
| Manhattan for 11 years, beginning in 1966; after leaving office, he | ||
| continued to share his political acumen with others while building | ||
| a media empire that helped give greater voice to the African | ||
| American community; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Inner City Broadcasting, a group of investors led by | ||
| Mr. Sutton and his brother Oliver, bought the New York Amsterdam | ||
| News, the city's largest African American newspaper, and an AM | ||
| radio station, WLIB, which became the first African American-owned | ||
| radio station in the metropolis; in 1974, the company bought an FM | ||
| station, WBLS, which became the flagship for the urban music | ||
| format; ICB eventually expanded into other markets across the | ||
| country and acquired two cable television franchises; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A true visionary, Mr. Sutton guided the purchase and | ||
| renovation of the Apollo Theater, and the restoration of this | ||
| historic landmark sparked the revitalization of 125th Street and | ||
| other parts of Harlem; he took his place on the world stage as well, | ||
| accepting an invitation from President Bill Clinton to meet with | ||
| international business leaders during the 1995-1996 Group of Seven | ||
| Nations conference; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Sutton served on the national board of the NAACP | ||
| from 1989 to 1992 and raised funds as chair of the Great Black | ||
| American Artists Dinner Series; moreover, he established the annual | ||
| NAACP Lillian & Samuel Sutton Education Scholarship in honor of his | ||
| parents, and the organization accorded him its highest honor, the | ||
| Springarn Medal; in all his endeavors, he enjoyed the love and | ||
| support of his wife, Leatrice, and his children, Cheryl L. Sutton | ||
| and Pierre "Pepe" Sutton; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Few individuals can claim achievements as | ||
| far-reaching as those of Percy Sutton; "Mr. Chairman," as he was | ||
| known, was admired for his dapper style and gracious personality, | ||
| as well as for his brilliance, eloquence, and drive, and his | ||
| profound commitment to social progress will continue to inspire | ||
| others for many years to come; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
| Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay special tribute to the | ||
| life and legacy of Percy Ellis Sutton. | ||
| McClendon | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 223 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on June 28, 2011. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
