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.