By Counts                                              H.R. No. 469
         76R9556 BE-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, For more than 30 years, institutions in the Texas
 1-2     State Technical College (TSTC) System have provided essential
 1-3     training and education, greatly benefiting students and state
 1-4     industries alike; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Created by the Texas Legislature in 1965 as the
 1-6     James Connally Technical Institute, this noted precursor to TSTC
 1-7     was established to meet the evolving employment needs of Texas
 1-8     workers and businesses; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Located at the former James Connally Air Force Base
1-10     in Waco, the school expanded after great intial success, opening a
1-11     second campus in Harlingen in 1967;  Amarillo and Sweetwater
1-12     centers were created in 1970, and by 1991, extension centers had
1-13     been established in McAllen, Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, and
1-14     Marshall; and
1-15           WHEREAS, The name of the institute was changed in 1991, but
1-16     the schools have maintained their focus on high-priority technical
1-17     skills through strategic links with industry partners and
1-18     employers, providing TSTC students across the state with specific
1-19     education and job opportunities; and
1-20           WHEREAS, TSTC has been recognized as the third largest
1-21     engineering technology institution in the U.S. by the American
1-22     Association of Engineering Societies and has been named among the
1-23     top 50 associate degree and certificate producing two-year colleges
1-24     by Community College Week magazine for six consecutive years; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, With nearly 13,000 students in degree and
 2-2     certificate programs and 16,000 others in adult, continuing
 2-3     education, and industry training programs, enrollment in the TSTC
 2-4     System has grown almost 30 percent in the last six years; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, The system's network of administrators, educators,
 2-6     staff, and students, in tandem with business and industry leaders
 2-7     from all regions of the Lone Star State, has accomplished much in
 2-8     three decades, and it is justly fitting to honor the many
 2-9     contributions and successes of the TSTC System at this time; now,
2-10     therefore, be it
2-11           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-12     Legislature hereby recognize April 14, 1999, as Texas State
2-13     Technical College Day at the Capitol and extend to all those
2-14     associated with this prominent educational system warmest best
2-15     wishes for even greater success in the years to come; and, be it
2-16     further
2-17           RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
2-18     for the members of the TSTC Board of Regents and for the directors
2-19     of the TSTC Foundation as an expression of high regard by the Texas
2-20     House of Representatives.