Texas HR 22: In memory of Devoyd "Dee" Jennings of Fort Worth.

Bill Text

H.R.ANo.A22
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The passing of admired civic leader Devoyd Jennings
of Fort Worth on July 24, 2021, at the age of 73, brought a great
loss to his family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Born in Los Angeles, California, on September 10,
1947, "Dee" Jennings was the son of William and Margaret Jennings;
he grew up in Fort Worth and attended I. M. Terrell High School and
Tarrant County Community College before completing his bachelor’s
degree in marketing at Texas Wesleyan University; in 1973, he began
working for Texas Electric as a consumer specialist, and during his
noteworthy 27-year career with the company, he became its first
African American lobbyist; and
WHEREAS, Mr.AJennings was involved in many business and
civicAorganizations and served as president and CEO of the Fort
Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce; he was instrumental
in its establishment of two leadership programs, Paths Forward
andABRIDGE; in addition, he helped create two standalone
organizations that directly benefit minority development, the
William Mann Jr.ACommunity Development Corporation and Southeast
Fort Worth Incorporated; he further served as chair of the North
Texas Tollway Authority’s Business Diversity Advisory Committee
and worked tirelessly with public officials and others to advance
minority- and women-owned businesses; deeply committed to
education, he was a member of the board of Texas Wesleyan University
for nearly two decades; he successfully championed the refurbishing
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of his old elementary school, G. W. Carver, and the reopening of
I.AM.ATerrell as a STEM and performing arts academy; moreover, he
was an active alumnus of the I.AM.ATerrell Class of 1966; the
recipient of numerous accolades, he was honored by the City of Fort
Worth in 1992 and 2005 with proclamations of Devoyd Jennings Day; he
was also recognized three times by the Fort Worth Business Press,
most recently with a 2017 Minority Leaders in Business Award; and
WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, Mr.AJennings shared a
fulfilling 41-year marriage with his wife, Gwen; he took great
pride in his 5 children, Charles, Robert, Demeka, Carla, and
Sharla, as well as his 11 grandchildren, Gerome, Jasmine, Jordan,
Isis, Kyzier, Zion, Anthony, Dominique, Lala, Jared, and Yancy, and
his great-granddaughter, Princess; in his free time, he enjoyed
listening to jazz and playing basketball; and
WHEREAS, Dee Jennings gave freely of his time and expertise
to better his community, and his record of service will be a lasting
source of inspiration to all who were privileged to know him; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Devoyd Jennings and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dee
Jennings.
Collier
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H.R.ANo.A22
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______________________________
Speaker of the HouseAAAAA
I certify that H.R. No. 22 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on September 30, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the HouseAAA
H.R.ANo.A22
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