By: Black H.C.R. No. 18
73R2842 PAN-D
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, This year marks a milestone in the history of
1-2 Central Texas College in Killeen as it celebrates 25 years of
1-3 service in providing outstanding educational opportunities to the
1-4 citizens of this state; and
1-5 WHEREAS, The founding of this fine institution can be traced
1-6 back to 1963 when Dr. Normal Hall, principal of Nolan Junior High
1-7 School in Killeen, and Dan Manfull, executive vice-president of the
1-8 Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, met to discuss the possibility
1-9 of forming a junior college in Killeen; and
1-10 WHEREAS, The chamber quickly assumed leadership of the
1-11 movement, appropriating funds for a research team to conduct a
1-12 professional survey of the project; and
1-13 WHEREAS, On July 10, 1965, voters in three school districts
1-14 approved the formation of the college district and selected its
1-15 seven trustees; at its first meeting, the newly formed board chose
1-16 the official name of the district and set the fall of 1967 as the
1-17 target date for the opening of classes; and
1-18 WHEREAS, In 1966 the college was granted the use of 103.8
1-19 acres of land in Bell and Coryell counties by the United States
1-20 Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, with the
1-21 understanding that if the college maintained the acreage for
1-22 educational purposes, it would become the owner of the property in
1-23 20 years; accordingly, the college was formally deeded this acreage
1-24 in 1986 and, since that time, the district has been granted the use
2-1 of another 441.31 acres; and
2-2 WHEREAS, In September 1967, only 15 months after letting the
2-3 first building contract, Central Texas College opened its doors to
2-4 students for the first time, with five different buildings in place
2-5 to serve their needs; by the following year, an additional four
2-6 buildings had been added to the physical plant of the campus; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Since that time, more than a dozen additional
2-8 buildings and permanent facilities have been added to the college,
2-9 contributing to its reputation for having one of the most
2-10 attractive physical layouts of any community college in the state;
2-11 and
2-12 WHEREAS, Over the course of its rich history, Central Texas
2-13 College has sought to be responsive to the needs of the military at
2-14 nearby Fort Hood, tailoring the length of some of its academic
2-15 courses to better meet the needs of military students, establishing
2-16 a campus on base, and becoming heavily committed to furnishing
2-17 military occupational training on base; and
2-18 WHEREAS, Central Texas College established one of the first
2-19 transition programs for the military in the United States following
2-20 the Vietnam War, affording individuals in the military the
2-21 opportunity to obtain job entry skills while they were still in the
2-22 service; the college later expanded the program overseas, and
2-23 today, Central Texas College is one of the largest providers of
2-24 academic and vocational-technical classes for the United States
2-25 Armed Services worldwide; and
2-26 WHEREAS, Central Texas College has provided exceptional
2-27 educational opportunities to countless men and women over the past
3-1 quarter century, preparing them to become productive and
3-2 contributing members of society; surely this fine institution will
3-3 continue to serve as a symbol of pride and accomplishment for the
3-4 school's many distinguished alumni and for generations of students
3-5 to come; now, therefore, be it
3-6 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas
3-7 hereby congratulate Central Texas College on the occasion of its
3-8 25th anniversary and commend all those associated with the school
3-9 on their commitment to excellence in education; and, be it further
3-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-11 prepared for Central Texas College as an expression of high regard
3-12 by the Legislature of the State of Texas.