By Johnson H.R. No. 418 74R5662 BNL-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The citizens of Martinsville recently marked a 1-2 momentous occasion in the history of a favorite local landmark when 1-3 they commemorated the centennial of Martinsville School; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Founded in 1894, this unique school has educated 1-5 several generations of Martinsville residents, and many of today's 1-6 students are studying in the same classrooms where their 1-7 grandparents first learned to read and write; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Through the years, the physical structure of the 1-9 school has undergone many changes, most notably after a 1934 fire 1-10 swept through the original building; the school's outhouses and 1-11 wellhouses were rendered obsolete by modern plumbing, but the 1-12 school's original commitment to the children and families of that 1-13 community has remained unchanged for more than a century; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The original gym, which once housed a woodburning 1-15 heater, is still used for athletic competitions, dances, and 1-16 community activities, as well as for physical education; the girls' 1-17 athletic program has flourished under the direction of Coach Hoyt 1-18 Woodle, and their basketball and cross-country teams have won 1-19 district titles for the past five consecutive years; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Other extracurricular and academic programs also 1-21 have fared well in University Interscholastic League competition, 1-22 with students earning statewide recognition in Ready Writing and 1-23 One-Act Play competitions; the school's challenging curriculum has 1-24 expanded over the years to include foreign language, special 2-1 education, and English as a second language programs, and the 2-2 facility has added two computer labs to prepare students for the 2-3 technological demands of the future; and 2-4 WHEREAS, When the school district faced consolidation in the 2-5 early 1980s, parents and community leaders successfully fought to 2-6 keep Martinsville School independent and locally controlled; their 2-7 efforts have been rewarded in recent years as enrollment increases 2-8 have necessitated the addition of seven new classrooms and five 2-9 mobile units to educate the growing East Texas population; and 2-10 WHEREAS, For 100 years Martinsville School has educated 2-11 succeeding generations of Texans in Nacogdoches County, while 2-12 serving as an important reminder of our rich pioneer history; the 2-13 school has kept alive the unique tradition of the rural 2-14 schoolhouse, and thus it is a proud monument to our shared 2-15 heritage; now, therefore, be it 2-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-17 Legislature hereby commemorate the centennial of Martinsville 2-18 School and extend to its faculty, administration, and students 2-19 warmest best wishes for many more years of continued success; and, 2-20 be it further 2-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-22 prepared for prominent display at Martinsville School as an 2-23 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.