1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1018 1-3 WHEREAS, Texans will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 1-4 founding of Lamar University in 1999, and such an august occasion 1-5 is indeed worthy of special legislative recognition; and 1-6 WHEREAS, South Park Junior College opened its doors on 1-7 March 8, 1923, in Beaumont; the institution underwent several 1-8 name and status changes and earned the distinction of being 1-9 the first junior college in the state to become a four-year 1-10 state-supported college; in 1971 the Texas Legislature approved 1-11 its current designation as Lamar University in honor of 1-12 Mirabeau B. Lamar, the "Father of Education" in Texas; and 1-13 WHEREAS, The Lamar University System has grown 1-14 through the years to encompass an extension center in Orange 1-15 and the former Port Arthur College and the system merged in 1-16 September, 1995, with The Texas State University System, 1-17 joining sister institutions Angelo State University, 1-18 Sam Houston State University, Southwest Texas State University, 1-19 and Sul Ross State University; and 1-20 WHEREAS, A dynamic educational, scientific, engineering, 1-21 business, and cultural resource center, Lamar University is 2-1 committed to teaching, research, and service; providing students 2-2 with a liberal education in the context of a global and 2-3 multicultural environment, it currently offers 66 bachelor's 2-4 degrees, 27 master's degrees, and two doctoral degrees; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The university updates its curriculum and 2-6 implements new teaching methodologies to meet ever-changing 2-7 demands, allowing it to deliver academic courses by interactive 2-8 video and cable television as well as by more traditional means; 2-9 in addition, it is home to the Lamar Language Institute, an 2-10 intensive English language program for full-time students and 2-11 college-bound foreign students, as well as other non-native 2-12 English users at the university and in the community; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The campus centerpiece is the stately Mary and 2-14 John Gray Library, an eight-story structure built to house 2-15 about one million volumes and accommodate 1,200 students and 2-16 faculty; the top floor, designated for future needs as expansion 2-17 demands, now serves as an elegant reception center for meetings 2-18 and conferences; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Physical facilities also include the 10,000-seat 2-20 Montagne Center coliseum, home of the university's basketball 2-21 teams and extra-curricular programs; Setzer Student Center; and 2-22 the Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Outdoor Museum, which features 2-23 exhibits of the state's early oil industry, beginning with the 2-24 first gusher at Spindletop Hill near the Lamar campus; and 3-1 WHEREAS, Throughout its admirable history, Lamar University 3-2 has effectively addressed the educational needs of its community, 3-3 and in doing so it has greatly enhanced the educational, social, 3-4 and cultural fabric of the southeast region of our state; now, 3-5 therefore, be it 3-6 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-7 76th Legislature, hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of 3-8 the founding of Lamar University and extend sincere best wishes 3-9 to its administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni for 3-10 continued success; and, be it further 3-11 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 3-12 prepared for prominent display at Lamar University as an 3-13 expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. 3-14 Bernsen 3-15 Armbrister Harris Ogden 3-16 Barrientos Haywood Ratliff 3-17 Bivins Jackson Shapiro 3-18 Brown Lindsay Shapleigh 3-19 Cain Lucio Sibley 3-20 Carona Luna Truan 3-21 Duncan Madla Wentworth 3-22 Ellis Moncrief West 3-23 Fraser Nelson Whitmire 3-24 Gallegos Nixon Zaffirini 3-25 Perry, President of the Senate 3-26 ______________________________________ 3-27 President of the Senate 3-28 I hereby certify that the above 3-29 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-30 on May 25, 1999. 3-31 ______________________________________ 3-32 Secretary of the Senate 3-33 ______________________________________ 4-1 Member, Texas Senate