By:  Counts                                            H.R. No. 678
       73R10369 NBM-F
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes special
    1-2  pleasure in honoring Jeremiah Pleasant "Jerry" Worsham, on his
    1-3  outstanding achievements as drama teacher at Snyder High School;
    1-4  and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Known throughout the state as the winningest
    1-6  director in the history of the University Interscholastic League,
    1-7  Mr. Worsham has led his students to the statewide one-act play
    1-8  competition 23 times, winning top honors 11 times, second place six
    1-9  times, and third place twice; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, A native of Barry, Texas, this exemplary teacher
   1-11  attended Navarro College and Baylor University and was graduated
   1-12  from the University of North Texas with a degree in political
   1-13  science; after spending his first year of teaching at Corsicana
   1-14  High School in Navarro County, he served with the U.S. Navy in
   1-15  Vietnam for three years; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, On his return to the United States in 1967,
   1-17  Mr. Worsham joined the staff of Snyder High School as drama
   1-18  teacher, leading his students to victory in the UIL one-act play
   1-19  competition during the first year; over the past two decades, he
   1-20  has not only repeated this achievement 10 times but also has
   1-21  created one of the nation's finest high school drama programs; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Recognized as the outstanding high school drama
   1-23  teacher in the country by the American Theatre Association in 1985,
   1-24  Mr. Worsham received one of his greatest honors in 1984, when the
    2-1  Rockefeller Foundation completed a five-year search for the
    2-2  nation's best arts program by awarding Snyder High School a $10,000
    2-3  Rockefeller Arts in Education Award; this esteemed educator also
    2-4  has been named Texas Speech Teacher of the Year and Texas Drama
    2-5  Teacher of the Year, and the Snyder Board of Education recently
    2-6  renamed the high school auditorium in his honor; and
    2-7        WHEREAS, Not only a fine director but an inspiring mentor and
    2-8  steadfast friend as well, he challenges his students to think and
    2-9  act with confidence, courage, and independence; for more than two
   2-10  decades, alumni of the Snyder High School drama program have
   2-11  parlayed their experience into personal and professional success,
   2-12  and many former students have succeeded as writers and actors in
   2-13  the fields of theater, film, and television; and
   2-14        WHEREAS, Known to all as a man of uncompromising integrity
   2-15  and dedication, Mr. Worsham has inspired, guided, and illuminated
   2-16  the lives of his students at Snyder High School for a quarter of a
   2-17  century, and his many contributions to drama education are indeed
   2-18  worthy of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it
   2-19        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-20  Legislature hereby honor Jeremiah Pleasant "Jerry" Worsham for his
   2-21  outstanding achievements as drama teacher at Snyder High School;
   2-22  and, be it further
   2-23        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-24  prepared for Mr. Worsham as an expression of high esteem by the
   2-25  Texas House of Representatives.