By Green H.C.R. No. 100
76R7168 JBR-F
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The 76th Legislature of the State of Texas is proud
1-2 to recognize Southwest Texas State University on the historic
1-3 occasion of its 100th birthday; and
1-4 WHEREAS, On March 3, 1899, State Representative Fred Cocke
1-5 introduced a bill in the Texas House of Representatives to locate a
1-6 normal school in San Marcos; backed by Senator J. B. Dibrell in the
1-7 senate, the bill was passed and signed by Governor J. D. Sayers on
1-8 May 10, 1899; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Southwest Texas Normal School opened its doors in
1-10 September 1903 as a two-year teacher preparation institution; it
1-11 started out with 303 students and a faculty of 17; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Southwest Texas State University received university
1-13 status in 1969; today, it is a comprehensive university with an
1-14 enrollment of more than 21,000 students and offers 110
1-15 undergraduate degree programs, 77 graduate degree programs, and
1-16 doctoral programs in environmental geography and geographic
1-17 education; and
1-18 WHEREAS, Diplomas have been granted to some 100,000 graduates
1-19 of the prestigious educational institution, who have applied their
1-20 knowledge in varied careers in Texas and throughout the world; and
1-21 WHEREAS, Situated on the Balcones Fault, which separates the
1-22 Texas Hill Country from the coastal plains, the original 11-acre
1-23 campus was donated by the City of San Marcos in 1899, and in 1901
1-24 $35,000 was appropriated to erect buildings; the campus has
2-1 expanded to 427 acres, plus more than 4,000 acres dedicated to
2-2 ranching, farming, and recreation; and
2-3 WHEREAS, The alma mater of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Class
2-4 of 1930, Southwest Texas State University boasts other famous
2-5 alumni, including singer George Strait, Olympic champion Charles
2-6 Austin, actor Powers Boothe, columnist Heloise, director Thomas
2-7 Carter, and educator Tomas Rivera; and
2-8 WHEREAS, Admissions standards for the university are among
2-9 the highest in the state for public institutions; the school was
2-10 ranked by Money magazine as one of the "best buys" among public
2-11 universities for in-state students, the only Texas school named; it
2-12 was also named one of the 12 hot spots to go to school in
2-13 Newsweek's 1998 Kaplan college issue; and
2-14 WHEREAS, The university's undergraduate geography program is
2-15 ranked first in the nation by the Association of American
2-16 Geographers; the Ph.D. program in geography was initiated in 1996;
2-17 and
2-18 WHEREAS, Southwest Texas State University has received
2-19 national recognition for its School of Business as well as its
2-20 physics, creative writing, jazz, marketing and advertising,
2-21 long-term health care, physical therapy, speech therapy, polymer
2-22 chemistry, aquatic biology, materials physics, education, and
2-23 numerous other programs; and
2-24 WHEREAS, Endowed by both private gifts and national grants,
2-25 the university has attracted outstanding faculty members to its
2-26 campus; nine have been named Piper Professors and two have been
2-27 named the best in the nation by their professional organizations;
3-1 and
3-2 WHEREAS, All Texans can take pride in the growth and
3-3 development of this excellent educational institution as it
3-4 celebrates its centennial; now, therefore, be it
3-5 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-6 hereby designate March 3, 1999, as Southwest Texas State University
3-7 Day at the State Capitol and extend best wishes to its faculty,
3-8 students, and staff for a most joyous and heartwarming anniversary
3-9 celebration; and, be it further
3-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-11 prepared for the occasion as an expression of high regard by the
3-12 Texas House of Representatives and Senate.