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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Shirley Harris, the first Black graduate of Texas |
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State University in San Marcos, paved the way for other students of |
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color to pursue higher education; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Smithville, Shirley Harris graduated |
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from Edwards High School in Gonzales as salutatorian; after |
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attending San Antonio College for two years, she transferred to |
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what was then known as Southwest Texas State College in 1965; two |
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years prior, a federal judge had officially ordered the school's |
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desegregation, and there were only a handful of Black students |
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enrolled when Ms. Harris arrived; she earned a bachelor's degree in |
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education on May 26, 1967, becoming the first Black person to |
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graduate from the school; and |
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WHEREAS, Following her graduation, Ms. Harris embarked on a |
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career as an elementary school teacher in the South San Antonio |
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Independent School District; after a year, she moved to Briscoe |
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Elementary School in San Antonio ISD, where she taught for more than |
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four decades before retiring in 2011; over the course of her 42-year |
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tenure, she made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of |
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young Texans; she passed away on March 31, 2018, at the age of 73; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, At a time when the aspirations of Black women were |
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impeded by racism, Shirley Harris fulfilled her ambition to obtain |
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a degree and to become a teacher, and her courage and fierce |
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determination are a source of lasting inspiration to countless men |
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and women across the Lone Star State and beyond; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and legacy of Shirley |
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Harris; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of |
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Ms. Harris. |
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Zwiener |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2253 was adopted by the House on May |
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26, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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