By Clark H.C.R. No. 56 76R3954 GMW-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The year 1999 marks the 150th anniversary of Austin 1-2 College, and as the school commemorates this significant milestone 1-3 it is indeed fitting to recognize this esteemed university and to 1-4 reflect on its storied history; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Founded by the Reverend Daniel Baker, the oldest 1-6 liberal arts college in Texas was named in honor of Stephen F. 1-7 Austin and initially benefited from the guidance of General Sam 1-8 Houston and Anson Jones, presidents of the Republic of Texas, who 1-9 served on the school's original board of trustees; Austin College 1-10 still operates under the charter granted it when it opened in 1-11 Huntsville in 1849, before social and economic forces caused it to 1-12 relocate to Sherman in 1876; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Beginning in the 1950s, the college implemented 1-14 extensive efforts to expand the traditional liberal arts and 1-15 sciences curriculum, and the comprehensive educational program that 1-16 was installed in 1972 still shapes the academic life of the college 1-17 and the student body of more than 1,200 men and women; the current 1-18 academic environment places an emphasis on international studies 1-19 and features such stellar programs as the January Term and the 1-20 Leadership Institute; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The architecturally splendid 60-acre campus, which 1-22 has more than doubled in size in the past 50 years, vividly 1-23 reflects the philosophy of Austin College: steeped in tradition and 1-24 history, yet fully modernized in its facilities and goals for the 2-1 future; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Throughout its 150 years Austin College has been a 2-3 scholastic treasure, consistently providing its students with an 2-4 exemplary education, and it is truly appropriate that we honor it 2-5 at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-6 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-7 hereby honor Austin College on the occasion of its sesquicentennial 2-8 and extend to the school's students, faculty, and administrators 2-9 sincere best wishes for continued success in the future; and, be it 2-10 further 2-11 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-12 prepared for prominent display at Austin College as a token of high 2-13 regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.