By Lewis of Tarrant                              H.R. No. 101

      75R4981 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, For more than 90 years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,

 1-2     Inc., has provided African-American men with the opportunity to

 1-3     gather together to promote their common ideas and goals; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Founded in 1906 at Cornell University, Alpha Phi

 1-5     Alpha was the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity

 1-6     established for black college students; since its inception, more

 1-7     than 125,000 men have been initiated into this venerable

 1-8     organization, and its influence has spread to more than 350

 1-9     colleges and universities worldwide; and

1-10           WHEREAS, The fraternity's seven founders based membership on

1-11     character, scholarship, fellowship, and humanitarianism, and these

1-12     principles remain the guiding tenets of Alpha Phi Alpha and its

1-13     alumni; members receive valuable training in leadership and

1-14     community service, and they use these skills to encourage pride and

1-15     cooperation among African-American citizens; and

1-16           WHEREAS, The Texas Council of Alpha Chapters was founded in

1-17     1964 at Bishop College in Dallas as a means of advancing the

1-18     influence of chapters in our state; by forming alliances with other

1-19     chapters, the council's elected officers have gained greater access

1-20     to the regional offices and can more directly affect the

1-21     decision-making processes that govern Texas chapters; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Council of Alpha Chapters will

1-23     gather in Fort Worth on February 21-23, 1997, to participate in

1-24     Alpha Phi Alpha's 33rd annual state convention; this year's

 2-1     function will be hosted by Fort Worth's Beta Tau Lambda chapter and

 2-2     will feature representatives of more than 25 alumni chapters and 30

 2-3     undergraduate chapters; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, In addition to creating an exciting and entertaining

 2-5     atmosphere for the participants, this event will offer a great

 2-6     opportunity for the brothers of this historic organization to

 2-7     celebrate and promote the dynamic ideals on which their fraternity

 2-8     is based, and the members of this chamber are pleased to

 2-9     commemorate this worthwhile event; now, therefore, be it

2-10           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-11     Legislature hereby commend Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., on the

2-12     occasion of its 33rd annual state convention and extend to its

2-13     members sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness in

2-14     the years to come; and, be it further

2-15           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-16     prepared for the members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., as an

2-17     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.