Bill Text: TX HR544 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Honoring Prairie View A&M University.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2013-02-26 - Reported enrolled [HR544 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR544-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Honoring Prairie View A&M University.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2013-02-26 - Reported enrolled [HR544 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR544-Introduced.html
83R8094 MGR-D | ||
By: Bell | H.R. No. 544 |
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WHEREAS, Students, faculty, and members of the | ||
administration of Prairie View A&M University are visiting the | ||
State Capitol on February 25, 2013, and this occasion provides a | ||
fitting opportunity to pay tribute to the rich history and | ||
continuing achievements of this notable institution; and | ||
WHEREAS, Prairie View A&M University dates back to 1876, when | ||
the 15th Texas Legislature established a school known as the "Alta | ||
Vista Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored | ||
Youth" during Reconstruction; the first students enrolled in 1878, | ||
and a normal school for training teachers was created by the | ||
legislature the following year; the normal school and the | ||
agricultural and mechanical college were combined by the 20th | ||
Legislature in 1887; and | ||
WHEREAS, The institution expanded its curriculum to four | ||
years in 1900 and began offering intercollegiate athletics in 1904; | ||
the school won its first football game, against Wiley College, in | ||
1907; a cooperative extension program was added in 1914 and the Army | ||
Reserve Officer Training Corps followed in 1917; during the 1920s, | ||
the school introduced the first baccalaureate degrees and a school | ||
of nursing, took part in the organization of the Southwest Athletic | ||
Conference, and also started hosting a branch of the University | ||
Interscholastic League known as the Prairie View Interscholastic | ||
League, which existed until the late 1960s; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1939, a graduate school was initiated at Prairie | ||
View; the school began a program for commissioning U.S. Army | ||
officers in 1944 and naval reserve officers in 1970; five | ||
commissioned officers from the school's army training corps have | ||
gone on to become three-star generals, and three officers from its | ||
navy training corps have gone on to become admirals; and | ||
WHEREAS, Voters approved a state constitutional amendment in | ||
1984 that recognized Prairie View A&M as a university of the first | ||
class and restructured the state's Permanent University Fund to | ||
include Prairie View as a beneficiary; in addition, the legislature | ||
established the Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and | ||
Culture at Prairie View in 1999; the school launched its first | ||
doctoral program, in juvenile justice, and has since added others | ||
in electrical engineering, juvenile forensic psychology, and | ||
education leadership; and | ||
WHEREAS, Now under the leadership of president Dr. George C. | ||
Wright, the university has an enrollment of over 8,000 students, | ||
including more than 2,000 graduate students; and | ||
WHEREAS, On March 11, 2013, Prairie View A&M will observe the | ||
137th anniversary of its founding; it has been providing its | ||
students with a solid foundation for achievement for more than a | ||
century, and in so doing, it has contributed immeasurably to the | ||
fascinating history and ongoing prosperity of the Lone Star State; | ||
now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby honor Prairie View A&M University on the | ||
occasion of its 137th anniversary and extend to the delegation | ||
visiting today sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable | ||
trip to the State Capitol; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for the university as an expression of high regard by the | ||
Texas House of Representatives. |