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