By:  Shapiro                                           S.R. No. 909
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, James Russell Williams is retiring as director
    1-3  of music education with the Tyler Independent School District,
    1-4  bringing to a close a distinguished career in the field of music
    1-5  education that has spanned an impressive 46 years; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Mr. Williams first earned renown for his musical
    1-7  abilities as a student at Prairie View A&M University where he
    1-8  also directed the school's marching band and jazz orchestra; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, After graduation in 1947, he joined the
   1-10  faculty of Crockett High School, where he organized and directed
   1-11  a 60-member concert and marching band and was widely respected for
   1-12  his organizational talents and outstanding musicianship; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Two years later, he accepted the challenge from
   1-14  the principal of Emmett Scott High School in Tyler to establish a
   1-15  band program in the city's African American community, which included
   1-16  all of the city's black public schools as well as Texas College; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, With a combination of community fundraising
   1-18  efforts and the promise of a matching grant from the Tyler
   1-19  Independent School District and after two years of hard work
   1-20  and exceptional dedication, Mr. Williams had put band programs
   1-21  into place at Emmett Scott Junior High School, Emmett Scott
   1-22  Senior High School, and Texas College; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, When increasing professional demands forced him
    2-1  to choose between pursuing a career with the district or with the
    2-2  college, Mr. Williams decided to remain with the district and for
    2-3  20 years capably served as band director at Emmett Scott High School;
    2-4  and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Under his outstanding leadership, the high school
    2-6  band earned many prestigious accolades, receiving 14 consecutive
    2-7  sweepstakes awards and winning one national marching championship;
    2-8  and
    2-9        WHEREAS, When the school closed its doors in 1969,
   2-10  Mr. Williams became stage band director at Robert E. Lee and
   2-11  John Tyler high schools, and one year later was named director of
   2-12  bands at John Tyler High School, where he served for nine years; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, Widely regarded throughout the Tyler district for
   2-14  his exceptional abilities and for his outstanding dedication to his
   2-15  students, he was promoted to director of music education for the
   2-16  district in 1979 and has ably served in that capacity since that
   2-17  time; and
   2-180           WHEREAS, Mr. Williams is a dedicated professional who has
   2-191     diligently worked to improve the quality of music education in his
   2-202     community; he has been a life-shaping influence on his students,
   2-213     and it is appropriate that he be honored on the occasion of his
   2-224     retirement; now, therefore, be it
   2-235           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-246     73rd Legislature, hereby commend James Russell Williams for his
   2-257     many outstanding contributions to music education and extend to him
    3-18     best wishes for a happy and rewarding retirement; and, be it further
    3-29           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
    3-30     prepared for Mr. Williams as an expression of high regard from the
    3-41     Texas Senate.
    3-52                                    _____________________________________
    3-63                                           President of the Senate
    3-74                                         I hereby certify that the
    3-85                                    above Resolution was adopted by
    3-96                                    the Senate on May 11, 1993.
   3-107                                    _____________________________________
   3-118                                           Secretary of the Senate
   3-129                                    _____________________________________
   3-130                                            Member, Texas Senate