Travis County Commissioners Court
September 14, 2004
Item 36
36 is to consider and take appropriate action on request to place a public
recognition pawluk in honor of heman sweat versus painter lawsuit in the 126th
judicial district court in the old historic courthouse.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners. Back on June 22 of
this year, we came to you to request your approval of the pawluk for heman
sweat in the courthouse. We are happy to tell you that with the hard work
of a number of different people, not the least of which was ed hernandez,
who helped us raise a lot of this money. He's from akin gump and he helped
us get four or five of the largest firms together and we raised over $5,000
and we are prepared to move forward at this point. I handed out to you and
I hope this got to you, the proposed language as well as the proposed -- what
it looks like with your approval today we intend to in fact send it off to
the company that's going to do the bronze. I've gotten a lot of help also
from a couple of different people, special thanks to Commissioner Daugherty,
who was our first donation. And we've gotten some help from u.t., Who also
gave us the name of an archivist who has a number of pictures. Commissioner
Sonleitner had suggested that, and we've been able to look into some of that.
We'd like to also thank abla, who has agreed to administer -- to take the
fund, cash them and hold them and be kind of the reposetory for the funds
and as well as whatever funds are left over they'll be looking forward to
handling the scholarship funds for us. So judge, thank you for yowsh guidance
in getting this on the agenda and we're ready to move forward.
>> you would know that I would always have to bring up a
little copy reading thing. Eric, in terms of the first home that the university
of Texas law school is mentioned, law is lower l, and that really ought to
be -- that way we just have consistency related to how we refer to the law
school. And this is not going to be any kind of surprise to eric because we
talked about this yesterday, but I will tell you right now if we are moving
towards the construction of a new civil courthouse, I certainly know that
the first name that I’m going to be thinking of related to what ought that
building be named, it would be heman sweat because he absolutely changed the
complexion and changed everything about the civil law system within the city
of Austin and Travis County. I can think of no better name to put on it.
>> second.
>> that sounds like a motion to me. Commissioner Davis?
>> i'd like to thank eric and everybody that's been involved
with this. And growing up here in Austin -- (indiscernible), but I do remember
this name being talked about growing up here in Austin at the barber shops
and the older folks sitting around talking about what this young man had to
go through to achieve equity in that concern. So i'll never forget the thing
that were told to me during that time. I’m really impressed with this moving
forward and then getting the recognition being granted. I think it's something
that we ought to embrace because it really reflects what this community is
about, and its progressiveness as far as moving forward to make sure that
equity is achieved. And that's always something that we've got to continue
to struggle for. It's not absolute,, it's not a given, but it's something
we need to continue to struggle towards. So with that -- was there a motion?
>> the motion Commissioner Sonleitner made......
>> I look forward to seconding your motion.
>> judge, do you want to make the motion and i'll second
it?
>> whichever.
>> the only thing is that one of the benefits of what we've
done is we've managed to make contact with mr. Sweat's family who is excited
both about the scholarship program and excited about coming down here for
the ceremony when the plaque is hung.
>> (indiscernible).
>> we had a conversation with her and there's a special picture
of her father she would like to have, so we're going to check with her and
see if that will be the one. (indiscernible). And that's when we reviewed
the picture that she suggests. We'll be in touch with her. And she's really
excited about the project, not only about this, but also about, as malcolm
said, the scholarship.
>> she was contacted that was related to him, are there any
other relatives?
>> she's going to help us with that.
>> it ought to be a big family affair.
>> we're also talking about having judge green hill at the
ceremony as well because -- because of a story in the Austin business journal
about a case he was trying. We'll keep you updated on how it goes forward.
We want to thank you for your guidance.
>> we need a motion on that.
>> Commissioner, the time as has come.
>> i'll second it.
>> three seconds. Any more discussion? All in favor? That
passes unanimously. Thank you very much.
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Last Modified: Thursday, October 27, 2005 10:25 AM