HR962 - Honoring Martha Thomas and The Defensive Line for their efforts to prevent youth suicide.

      H.R. No. 962       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, The Defensive Line is a nonprofit organization   dedicated to suicide prevention, and the group's cofounder and   chief education officer, Martha Thomas, is visiting the Capitol on   May 1, 2025; and          WHEREAS, A resident of Coppell, Mrs. Thomas helped establish   The Defensive Line in 2021 after the tragic suicide of her   24-year-old daughter, Ella, in January 2018; cofounded with her   husband, Chris Thomas, and their son, Dallas Cowboys defensive   lineman Solomon Thomas, The Defensive Line seeks to end the   epidemic of youth suicide, especially for young people of color, by   transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental   health; and          WHEREAS, After working in education for more than 30 years,   Mrs. Thomas left teaching in 2022 to devote herself full-time to The   Defensive Line; drawing on her insights into the realities of the   classroom, she educates participants about suicide prevention   through the organization's workshops, which guide teachers and   leaders through the facts of youth suicide, particularly for people   of color, and prepare them to address mental health crises,   initiate difficult conversations, develop an action plan, and   create a safe environment; Mrs. Thomas has led programming   partnerships in the Dallas and Fort Worth Independent School   Districts and at Baylor University and Stanford University, and she   is a popular podcast guest and keynote speaker; she and her husband   serve as faculty members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and   are involved with Project ECHO, its telementoring program; and          WHEREAS, The Defensive Line has called much-needed attention   to the issue of youth suicide and to the actions that can be taken to   help save lives, and it is a pleasure to join in recognizing Martha   Thomas and her colleagues for their steadfast commitment to this   worthy cause; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby honor Martha Thomas and The Defensive Line for   their efforts to prevent youth suicide and extend to all those   affiliated with the organization sincere best wishes for continued   success with their important work; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be   prepared for Mrs. Thomas as an expression of high regard by the   Texas House of Representatives.     Garcia Hernandez     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 962 was adopted by the House on June   1, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House