1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 265 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas proudly joins 1-4 citizens throughout the country in recognizing the month of 1-5 February, 1999, as Black History Month; and 1-6 WHEREAS, In keeping with the purpose of Black History Month, a 1-7 ceremony was held on February 5, 1999, honoring Melvin P. Sikes and 1-8 the late Norman Wilfred Scales, two members of the Tuskegee Airmen, 1-9 a decorated and segregated group of African American fighter pilots 1-10 and crews who were trained at Tuskegee, Alabama; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The City of Austin saluted these two legendary 1-12 pilots by flying 100 banners with pictures of Captain Scales and 1-13 Lieutenant Sikes along Congress Avenue from the Capitol to the 1-14 Colorado River; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Born in Charleston, Missouri, Melvin Sikes attended 1-16 high school in Indianapolis, Indiana; and 1-17 WHEREAS, A second lieutenant in the United States Army Air 1-18 Forces from 1943 through 1946, Melvin Sikes was first trained at 1-19 Shepherd Field in Wichita Falls; and 1-20 WHEREAS, That same year, he qualified to train at 1-21 Tuskegee, Alabama, and he was the recipient of numerous conduct 1-22 and gunnery awards during his service to his country; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Dr. Sikes later became the Director of Veterans 1-24 Counseling Service at the Tuskegee Institute; after relocating 2-1 to Austin in the 1960s, he attended The University of Texas for 2-2 postdoctoral study, and then became a professor, campus consultant, 2-3 and program director; he practiced as a clinical psychologist and 2-4 has retired in Austin; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Achieving an outstanding record, the Tuskegee Airmen 2-6 destroyed or damaged over 1,000 ground and sea targets and over 2-7 400 German aircraft; they demolished a destroyer with machine-gun 2-8 fire, and they were most famous for a perfect bomber escort record; 2-9 not one bomber was lost to enemy fighters while under the group's 2-10 protection during 200 missions; the cost was exorbitant, with 56 2-11 pilots killed in combat and 32 more shot down who became prisoners 2-12 of war; truly our nation has cause to be grateful to these superb 2-13 patriotic fighting men; now, therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-15 76th Legislature, hereby congratulate Dr. Melvin P. Sikes for 2-16 his outstanding service which benefitted the State of Texas and 2-17 the United States of America and helped secure for all citizens 2-18 the blessings of liberty; and, be it further 2-19 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-20 Dr. Melvin P. Sikes as an expression of the highest respect and 2-21 esteem of the Texas Senate. 2-22 Barrientos 2-23 ______________________________________ 2-24 President of the Senate 2-25 I hereby certify that the above 2-26 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-27 on February 22, 1999. 2-28 ______________________________________ 2-29 Secretary of the Senate 2-30 ______________________________________ 3-1 Member, Texas Senate