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