Travis County Commissioners Court
May 4, 2010,
Item 3
3 is to approve proclamation congratulating mrs. Bertha elizabeth sadfler, means on her 90th birthday and recognizing her unwavering commitment to public service. Ms. Means is here, and with her friends and supporters, if you-all would come forward here, and get comfortable at our -- at the seat of your choice and table there. Would your friends like to come up? May as well. It reads, whereas one of the most pleasant duties of the travis county commissioners court is to express appropriate appreciation and well wishes to deserving travis county residents, whereas today we are especially delighted to fulfill this duty by sending heartfelt birthday greetings to mrs. Bertha elizabeth sadfler means in celebration of her 90th birthday. She looks decades younger than that. She and i discussed by phone last night. Whereas she was born in rocksprings texas, a community founded by her grandfather. After the death of her father when bertha was 4-year-olds, bertha and her mother and five siblings moved to waco. She attended public schools and attended ag moore high school where she served on the newspaper and lettered in athletics. That implies many sports, not just one.
>> that's right.
>> whereas since 1939 bertha means has lived and worked in austin, texas. She earned her b.a. Degree in education in english from tillotson college, now tillotson university, and a masters of education in educational psychology from the university of texas. She took additional courses and in curriculum and instruction, administration and supervision at the university of texas. Whereas bertha means that is always been on the forefront of the civil rights movement, leading peaceful demonstrations, both sit ins and stand-ins. She was instrumental in breaking down the walls at barton springs swimming pool, the ice palace, skating rink and other historically establishments. Her actions
>> [inaudible] all the accommodations and facilities of austin, which eventually led to the creation of the human relations department of the city of austin, whereas throughout her career bertha means rendered outstanding service in the field of education. She was a headstart director and the first coordinator for reading instruction in junior and senior high schools, visiting instructor in the department of curriculum and instruction at prairie view a&m university, conducted workshops in teacher education at huston-tillotson college and was an instructor in the department of curriculum and instruction at the university of texas. We don't make reference to your tenure at the austin independent school district, as an administrator.
>> yes.
>> for many, many years. That's where i met you, i think, right?
>> yes.
>> whereas bertha means' life is a true testament to a, quote, attributed to walter penn, i expect to pass through this world once. Any good, therefore, that i can do or any kindness abilities that i can show to any fellow creatures let me do it now. Let me now not defer or neglect it for i shall not pass this way again. And whereas, bertha means is loved and appreciated by her family, friends, students, parents, administrators, political leaders and untold residents of travis county, the state of texas and our nation for her devotion and relentless commitment to making this world a better place for all of us. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we the members of the travis county commissioners court do hereby extend joyful and heartfelt greetings to mrs. Bertha elizabeth sad sadfler means in observance of her 90th birthday and encourage residents of travis county to join us in saluting her to her unwavering commitment to public service, and i can really say that most of the time we kind of take information we're given and add to it. In fact, there is an adder right at ms. Means level.
>> [laughter] this time we really had to abbreviate the many, many biographical points we could have mentioned in a resolution, and ms. Means is also -- you're one of the owners of the cab company, right?
>> yes, it's a family-owned business.
>> a family-owned business. And when i think of family i think of mrs. Means now. Unfortunately, mr. Means passed on --
>> dr. Means.
>> two or three years ago?
>> two years ago.
>> a little less than three years.
>> vote approval.
>> yes.
>> comments?
>> yes.
>> first of all, judge biscoe and other commissioners, thank you so much. I am truly honored at this recognition. It's just been great. I have so many -- so many friends, so many people. As a matter of fact, may 1, which was saturday, was my birthday, and --
>> [applause] the event was held at st. James episcopal church and there were more than 400 people in attendance, and we received resolutions from a lot of people, including lloyd doggett and turp oxen, donna dukes, cheryl cole was there on behalf of mayor leffingwell, and of course i received a letter from the white house.
>> wow.
>> [applause]
>> signed by michelle and barack obama. So i am -- i'm deeply honored, and i would just like to say that i'm so proud of one of my 7th grade students, mr. Ron davis.
>> [laughter] in addition i'd like to say, when people, you know -- gee, you're 90, my goodness, i say, yeah, my goal is to shoot a hole in one before i get to be 102. So, judge biscoe, i'm prosecuting on it, and judge oh i'm practicing on it and judge piss company plays in my -- biscoe plays in my sister cities tournament every year, so get ready for september 11. It will be a tournament. We support hiv aids project in our sister city in lasutu. In addition i'd like to to say, i attended tillotson college, kay to austin in 1939 -- i came to austin in 1939, and my church, my family, huston-tillotson have always been a very important part of my life. So i have a lot more to say but i think i'd better not say anything. I think i've said enough, and again, thank you so very much.
>> [applause] this is my daughter joan cabelli, and the president of our austin chapter of huston-tillotson, ms. Jeffrey archer.
>> [applause]
>> thank you for coming.
>> my name is cheryl brown, i'm at sam brings company's office, and like judge brings company said, there are so many things i could have added in the proclamation so i encourage each of you-all to google, just for google her name. It will be pages and pages and pages and i'm so proud to even know you. Thank you.
>> well, i'm very proud to be alive.
>> [applause]
>> may you live 90 years more. All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> cheryl, will you hand this to -- hand this beautiful proclamation to mrs. Means.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 1:50 PM
