Bill Text: TX HR1375 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the dedication of a Texas Historical Marker at Van High School.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-05 - Reported enrolled [HR1375 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR1375-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 1375 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The Van Zandt County Historical Commission and the | ||
| citizens of Van are celebrating the dedication of a Texas | ||
| Historical Marker honoring Van High School on May 21, 2011; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Van High School was built in 1931 in response to the | ||
| rapid growth in population that occurred after oil was discovered | ||
| near Van in October 1929; before the oil boom, Van was a quiet | ||
| farming community with one schoolhouse, the five-room Van Common | ||
| School; at the beginning of the 1929-1930 school year, the Common | ||
| School had an enrollment of 90 pupils; by the next year, however, | ||
| the school was struggling to meet the demands of 611 students, and | ||
| it was clear to school and community officials that new schools | ||
| would have to be constructed; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Van Independent School District was able to | ||
| pursue its ambitious expansion plans through voter approval of a | ||
| bond issue and with the support of oil revenues, including a $12,500 | ||
| donation from the Pure Oil Company; by the summer of 1930, a new | ||
| gymnasium had been built, which served as a temporary high school; | ||
| construction started on a new high school and elementary school in | ||
| the spring of 1931; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Van High School opened at the beginning of the | ||
| 1931-1932 school year; a state-of-the-art campus, it included the | ||
| new gym and a teachers' home, with an athletic park and a physical | ||
| education-vocational building being added within the next few | ||
| years; the school drew its water from the Pure Oil Company lines at | ||
| no charge, and the company also provided gas to heat the buildings; | ||
| money that continued to come in from the oil field allowed the | ||
| school district to pursue a second phase of campus expansion that | ||
| continued during World War II, and that was finished in 1947; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Over the course of eight decades, Van High School | ||
| has figured prominently in the history of Van, and recognition by | ||
| the Texas Historical Commission is a fitting tribute to the role it | ||
| has played in educating several generations of area residents; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of a Texas Historical | ||
| Marker at Van High School and that all those involved in securing | ||
| the historical marker be extended sincere appreciation; and, be it | ||
| further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the Van Zandt County Historical Commission as an | ||
| expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Flynn | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 1375 was adopted by the House on April | ||
| 28, 2011, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
