Bill Text: TX HR255 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Honoring Gertrudejane Holliday Stone of Houston for her civic leadership and activism.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-16 - Reported enrolled [HR255 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR255-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 255 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Gertrudejane Holliday Stone has earned the | ||
| admiration of many fellow citizens through the contributions she | ||
| has made as a civil rights icon and a pillar of the Houston | ||
| community; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mrs. Stone made history in December 1955, when she | ||
| refused to give up her seat to a White passenger on a public train, | ||
| unknowingly becoming part of the anti-segregation movement | ||
| initiated by Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama, several days | ||
| earlier; although her brave and heroic act was not widely known | ||
| outside of Houston, she went on to be recognized during a visit to | ||
| the White House in 2020 and was also honored by The Kelly Clarkson | ||
| Show in 2021; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, | ||
| Tennessee, Mrs. Stone was also a trailblazer in Pennsylvania, where | ||
| she worked as a department store salesperson at a time when it was | ||
| largely unheard of for a Black person to do so; she was later | ||
| employed as a teacher in the Houston Independent School District | ||
| for about a decade before her retirement; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Over the years, this inspiring woman has volunteered | ||
| with numerous organizations, such as the Harris County Heritage | ||
| Society and the St. Elizabeth Hospital of Houston Foundation, which | ||
| was founded by her husband, the late Dr. John S. Stone; she has | ||
| served on the advisory board of Alley Theatre, on the executive | ||
| board of the Houston Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and | ||
| on various other boards and committees, in addition to providing | ||
| leadership as the first Black chair of the Houston Public Library | ||
| board and as cofounder of St. Mary's Catholic Church Federal Credit | ||
| Union; she was also instrumental in founding the National African | ||
| American Museum in Houston; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In acknowledgment of her volunteer work and her | ||
| significant contributions to the civil rights movement, Mrs. Stone | ||
| has received the Beautiful Activist Award from Brandeis University | ||
| and the title of Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre | ||
| of Jerusalem, the highest honor bestowed upon a Catholic layperson | ||
| by papal invitation; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Gertrudejane Stone is a distinguished citizen who | ||
| has demonstrated remarkable courage in breaking down racial | ||
| barriers throughout her life, and her achievements are truly | ||
| deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby honor Gertrudejane Holliday Stone for her civic | ||
| leadership and activism 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. Stone as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
| House of Representatives. | ||
| Dutton | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 255 was adopted by the House on March | ||
| 8, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
