R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The 1998-1999 academic year marks the 75th
 1-2     anniversary of Lamar University, and this noteworthy occasion is
 1-3     truly deserving of special recognition; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, This venerable institution was founded in 1923 as
 1-5     South Park Junior College and was later renamed Lamar College in
 1-6     1932 in honor of Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the
 1-7     Republic of Texas and the "Father of Education" in the Lone Star
 1-8     State; in 1942, the school relocated to its present-day location in
 1-9     Beaumont, where nine years later it became the first junior college
1-10     in Texas to evolve into a four-year state-supported college; since
1-11     that time, it has continued to grow and thrive, and in 1971 the
1-12     school officially became Lamar University; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Today, the university is a dynamic educational,
1-14     scientific, engineering, business, and cultural resource center,
1-15     and through its three-fold mission of teaching, research, and
1-16     service, it serves as a comprehensive learning environment; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Lamar University is organized into the colleges of
1-18     Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Development,
1-19     Engineering, Fine Arts and Communication, and Graduate Studies; in
1-20     1990 the Lamar University Institute of Technology was established,
1-21     and in 1995 the Lamar University System further expanded by merging
1-22     with the Texas State University System, joining with several sister
1-23     institutions to better meet the diverse needs of its student
1-24     population; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, For 75 years, Lamar University has been a scholastic
 2-2     treasure, consistently providing its students with an exemplary
 2-3     education, and it is most appropriate that we recognize it at this
 2-4     time; now, therefore, be it
 2-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-6     Legislature hereby honor Lamar University on the significant
 2-7     occasion of its 75th anniversary and extend to the school's
 2-8     students, staff, faculty, and administrators sincere best wishes
 2-9     for continued success; and, be it further
2-10           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-11     prepared for prominent display at Lamar University as an expression
2-12     of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                    Deshotel
                                                                      Ritter
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 509 was adopted by the House on March
         24, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House