By:  Holzheauser                                       H.R. No. 148
       73R3278 KMP-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, B. F. Erskine, the principal of Victoria High
    1-2  School, will retire this summer after 41 years of exceptional
    1-3  service to the students, staff, and residents of Victoria as an
    1-4  educator, role model, and community leader; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Mr. Erskine moved to
    1-6  his adopted home state of Texas in 1936, taking the Texas public
    1-7  school system by storm as a precocious second grader; 13 years
    1-8  later, he was graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with
    1-9  an arts and sciences degree; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Embarking on a career with the Victoria school
   1-11  system that would span more than four decades, he taught English at
   1-12  Victoria Junior High School from 1949 until 1951, when this
   1-13  patriotic citizen left Texas to serve in the United States Army
   1-14  during the Korean War; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, On his return to civilian life, Mr. Erskine earned a
   1-16  master's degree in education from The University of Texas at Austin
   1-17  and returned to Victoria to serve as principal of Patti Welder High
   1-18  School, where he worked diligently for 13 years to give his
   1-19  students the academic foundation needed to become successful in
   1-20  college and the workplace; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Continuing his commitment to his own professional
   1-22  development, this remarkable principal completed substantial course
   1-23  work toward his doctorate during this time; a member of the
   1-24  prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Texas Association
    2-1  of Secondary School Principals, he is today widely recognized for
    2-2  his outstanding work as a scholar and educator; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Dedicated to making Victoria a better place in which
    2-4  to work and live, he also has been active in several civic and
    2-5  charitable organizations; a past president and board member of the
    2-6  Victoria Lions Club, this admirable gentleman has been a member of
    2-7  the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, and the First United
    2-8  Methodist Church as well; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Despite his many civic and professional activities,
   2-10  Mr. Erskine is above all else a devoted husband and father who
   2-11  enjoys a happy and rewarding marriage with his wife, Cathy Workman
   2-12  Erskine, and takes great pride in the accomplishments of his two
   2-13  sons, Charles and Patrick Erskine; and
   2-14        WHEREAS, This exemplary educator is a true inspiration to all
   2-15  Texas teachers, students, and citizens devoted to improving the
   2-16  quality of education in this state, and his many achievements are
   2-17  indeed worthy of special legislative recognition; now, therefore,
   2-18  be it
   2-19        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-20  Legislature hereby congratulate B. F. Erskine on the occasion of
   2-21  his retirement as principal of Victoria High School and extend to
   2-22  him warmest best wishes for continued success and happiness in his
   2-23  future endeavors; and, be it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-25  prepared for Mr. Erskine as an expression of highest esteem by the
   2-26  Texas House of Representatives.