Bill Text: TX SR637 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of William Charles Akins.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-04-18 - Reported enrolled [SR637 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SR637-Enrolled.html
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In Memory | ||
of | ||
William Charles Akins | ||
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the | ||
citizens of Austin in mourning the loss of William Charles Akins, | ||
a beloved member of the community, who died March 29, 2017, at the | ||
age of 84; and | ||
WHEREAS, A native of East Austin, Charles Akins was born on | ||
November 9, 1932; he attended Blackshear Elementary School and | ||
Kealing Junior High School, and he was a graduate of the original | ||
L. C. Anderson High School on Pennsylvania Street; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Akins studied history and English at | ||
Huston-Tillotson College and earned a bachelor's degree in 1954; | ||
he later earned a master's degree from Prairie View A&M | ||
University, and in 1982, Huston-Tillotson University awarded him | ||
an honorary doctorate of humane letters; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Akins began his career as an educator in | ||
Marlin, Texas, and he returned to Austin in 1959 to begin | ||
teaching at L. C. Anderson High School on Thompson Street, where | ||
he was named Teacher of the Year in 1962; when the Austin | ||
Independent School District began the process of integrating | ||
schools, he transferred to Johnston High School, where he served | ||
as the first crossover teacher in the district; he served as | ||
assistant principal at Anderson High School and at Lanier High | ||
School, and he continued to play an instrumental role in the | ||
district's desegregation initiatives; he spent his last nine | ||
years of in-school service as principal of the new L. C. Anderson | ||
High School on Mesa Drive, and he was promoted to the position of | ||
assistant superintendant and later associate superintendent of | ||
community relations for the district in 1994; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Akins retired after 44 years in education, and | ||
he stayed connected to his field as a board member for the Region | ||
13 Education Service Center and other educational organizations; | ||
in 2000, the Austin Independent School District honored his | ||
impressive career and legacy in the city with the opening of W. | ||
Charles Akins High School; and | ||
WHEREAS, Charles Akins was a distinguished civic leader | ||
who received numerous awards over the years for his contributions | ||
to his profession and his community; in addition to being a | ||
pioneer in education, he also created inroads into media when he | ||
became the first African American television sportscaster in | ||
Austin at KLRU; and | ||
WHEREAS, A man of deep spiritual devotion, he served the | ||
Wesley United Methodist Church in numerous capacities, including | ||
as a delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences for | ||
the United Methodist Church; and | ||
WHEREAS, Charles Akins was a devoted husband, father, and | ||
grandfather and a treasured citizen of the Lone Star State, and | ||
he leaves behind memories that will long be cherished by all who | ||
were privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th | ||
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
family of William Charles Akins; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
memory of Charles Akins. | ||
Watson | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on April 18, 2017, by a | ||
rising vote. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |