By Staples                                             H.R. No. 501
         76R10293 WMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Jacksonville College is celebrating its centennial
 1-2     year in 1999, and as the school commemorates this significant
 1-3     milestone, it is most fitting to recognize this esteemed
 1-4     institution and to reflect on its storied history; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Founded by the East Texas Educational Society,
 1-6     Jacksonville College received its state charter on June 26, 1899,
 1-7     and held its first semester in the fall of that year with 34
 1-8     students in attendance; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, In 1923 the original charter was amended to allow
1-10     the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas to own and operate the
1-11     college and, under that organization's able guidance, the school
1-12     has expanded its curriculum as well as the number of students
1-13     enrolled while fulfilling its mission to provide accredited
1-14     undergraduate education to students at the junior college level in
1-15     a Christian environment; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Jacksonville College was one of the first two-year
1-17     schools in the state to initiate a continuing education program for
1-18     adults and it currently offers a vocational program in computerized
1-19     business office skills; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Edwin Crank,
1-21     who has led the college as its president since 1988, the school
1-22     implemented an academy program in 1997 and will welcome 9th- and
1-23     10th-grade students in the fall of 1999, with 11th and 12th graders
1-24     being added in 1999 and 2000, respectively; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Throughout its 100 years, Jacksonville College has
 2-2     maintained high academic standards and it is indeed appropriate
 2-3     that this fine school be recognized for its contributions to
 2-4     educational excellence in the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be
 2-5     it
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-7     Legislature hereby honor Jacksonville College on the occasion of
 2-8     its centennial and extend to the school's students, staff, faculty,
 2-9     and administrators sincere best wishes for continued success; and,
2-10     be it further
2-11           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-12     prepared for prominent display at Jacksonville College as an
2-13     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.