1-1 By: Sibley S.C.R. No. 85 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed May 7, 1997; May 7, 1997, read first 1-3 time and referred to Committee on Administration; May 15, 1997, 1-4 reported favorably, as amended, by the following vote: Yeas 6, 1-5 Nays 0; May 15, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 By: Sibley 1-7 Amend S.C.R. No. 85 in the first resolving clause on page 2, line 1-8 10 by changing the name of the building from the Abner McCall 1-9 Building to the Raleigh Hotel/Abner McCall Building. 1-10 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-11 WHEREAS, Among the great men of Texas who have left their 1-12 indelible mark on the state is the late Abner McCall, former 1-13 President and Chancellor of Baylor University; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Born on June 8, 1915, in Jack County, Abner 1-15 experienced sorrow while quite young when his father died, leaving 1-16 his mother to care for four small children; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Left almost literally an orphan when their mother's 1-18 health declined, Abner and his brothers and sister went to the Fort 1-19 Worth Masonic Home and School; understanding the value of an 1-20 education, Abner graduated from the school as valedictorian in 1-21 1933; and 1-22 WHEREAS, A superb student, he received a Masonic scholarship 1-23 to attend Baylor University, where he intended to become an 1-24 attorney; and 1-25 WHEREAS, Working his way through college and law school, 1-26 Abner McCall graduated at the top of his law school class; his 1-27 score on the bar exam was higher than that of any other examinee; 1-28 and 1-29 WHEREAS, In 1940, he married Frances Bortle, and they made a 1-30 warm and loving home for their four children: Anne, Bette Gail, 1-31 Richard Vernon, and Kathleen; and 1-32 WHEREAS, In 1969, Frances predeceased him, and in 1970, he 1-33 married Mary W. Russell of Waco; and 1-34 WHEREAS, Appointed Dean of Baylor Law School in 1948, Abner 1-35 McCall was the youngest dean in the history of the law school; and 1-36 WHEREAS, Dean McCall was appointed by Governor Allan Shivers 1-37 to fill an interim position on the Texas Supreme Court in 1956; the 1-38 dean returned to the law school when the term was over; and 1-39 WHEREAS, An upright and moral man of great probity, he served 1-40 as Dean of Baylor Law School from 1948 through 1959; promoted to 1-41 Executive Vice President in 1959, he was named President of Baylor 1-42 University in 1961; and 1-43 WHEREAS, Blossoming under his leadership, Baylor University 1-44 increased its academic stature, capital assets, and national 1-45 reputation; the student enrollment increased to around 10,000, and 1-46 the size of the campus increased from about 40 acres to about 300 1-47 acres; and 1-48 WHEREAS, In 1970, President McCall hired Jack Patterson as 1-49 Athletic Director, and Grant Teaff was hired to become an 1-50 outstanding coach for Baylor; and 1-51 WHEREAS, President McCall began Baylor's development program 1-52 to enlarge the university's endowment, which has increased to over 1-53 $130 million; he served as Chancellor from 1981 until 1985; and 1-54 WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious career, his service to 1-55 education has taken many different forms; he served on the Board of 1-56 Trustees for the Waco Independent School District and was on the 1-57 steering committee of the Waco Adopt A School; he served as Trustee 1-58 of the Masonic Home Independent School District; a list of his 1-59 honors and awards would fill several pages; and 1-60 WHEREAS, A man with strong religious convictions, Chancellor 1-61 McCall worked devotedly on behalf of the Southern Baptist 1-62 Convention and was an active member of First Baptist Church in 1-63 Waco, where he taught a Bible Study class and was a deacon; and 1-64 WHEREAS, Accorded the highest honors among his peers, he was 2-1 appointed to the Texas Judicial Council by several different Texas 2-2 governors, and his unequaled record of professional and personal 2-3 contributions to his church, university, and state made him an 2-4 exemplary citizen of Texas; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Texans will remember Abner McCall for his leadership 2-6 and achievements, and it is fitting that a state building be named 2-7 in his honor; now, therefore, be it 2-8 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-9 hereby direct that the Raleigh Building in Waco be named the Abner 2-10 McCall Building in honor of one of the state's most beloved leaders 2-11 and citizens; and, be it further 2-12 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-13 copy of this resolution to the executive director of the General 2-14 Services Commission. 2-15 * * * * *