R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas
1-2 is pleased to recognize Prairie View A&M University on the grand
1-3 occasion of its 125th anniversary; and
1-4 WHEREAS, The first state-supported college in Texas for
1-5 African Americans, Prairie View A&M University was established by
1-6 the 15th Legislature on August 14, 1876, as Alta Vista Agricultural
1-7 and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youth; on March 11,
1-8 1878, eight young men became the college's first students; and
1-9 WHEREAS, The school underwent several name changes over the
1-10 years; in 1889, the 26th Legislature changed the name to Prairie
1-11 View State Normal & Industrial College; in 1945, the name was
1-12 changed to Prairie View University by the 49th Legislature; and in
1-13 1973, the 63rd Legislature changed the name to Prairie View A&M
1-14 University; and
1-15 WHEREAS, The Prairie View A&M University campus is comprised
1-16 of slightly more than 1,400 acres; the land was the former Alta
1-17 Vista Plantation and was purchased during the 1870s by the board of
1-18 directors from Mrs. Helen Marr Kirby, the widow of Colonel Jared
1-19 Ellison Kirby; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Today, the major feeder high schools for Prairie
1-21 View A&M University are located in the Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth,
1-22 and Waller-Hempstead areas; the enrollment has increased to
1-23 approximately 6,600 students, and the institution's budget is over
1-24 $90 million; since 1985, over $140 million has been invested in the
2-1 university's infrastructure; and
2-2 WHEREAS, The university is fortunate to have exceptionally
2-3 fine executive officers and faculty members; Dr. Charles A. Hines
2-4 joined the university in 1994 as its president, and his excellent
2-5 leadership has moved the institution further into the academic
2-6 mainstream; and
2-7 WHEREAS, The students are now benefitting from a new
2-8 privatized housing program, a new science building, and a student
2-9 park and community center; the university's endowed funds and
2-10 reserve funds are the highest in recent years, and the
2-11 state-authorized School of Juvenile Justice now offers the first
2-12 master's degree program in the nation in juvenile justice and a
2-13 doctoral degree in juvenile justice, the first doctoral degree
2-14 offering in the history of the university; and
2-15 WHEREAS, The faculty, administration, and members of the
2-16 board of trustees of Prairie View A&M University are committed to
2-17 providing the students of our state with a first-rate education,
2-18 and their success is evident in the excellent reputation the
2-19 university enjoys today; now, therefore, be it
2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of
2-21 Texas, 77th Legislature, hereby express congratulations to Prairie
2-22 View A&M University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary and
2-23 extend appreciation to the university for its many contributions to
2-24 higher education in our state; and, be it further RESOLVED,
2-25 That a copy of this resolution be prepared for Prairie View A&M
2-26 University as an expression of esteem from the Texas House of
2-27 Representatives.
Williams
Laney Goodman Merritt
Alexander Goolsby Miller
Allen Gray Moreno of Harris
Averitt Green Moreno of El Paso
Bailey Grusendorf Morrison
Berman Gutierrez Mowery
Bonnen Haggerty Naishtat
Bosse Hamric Najera
Brimer Hardcastle Nixon
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Noriega
Brown of Brazos Hawley Oliveira
Burnam Heflin Olivo
Callegari Hilbert Pickett
Capelo Hilderbran Pitts
Carter Hill Puente
Chavez Hinojosa Ramsay
Chisum Hochberg Rangel
Christian Hodge Raymond
Clark Homer Reyna of Bexar
Coleman Hope Reyna of Dallas
Cook Hopson Ritter
Corte Howard Sadler
Counts Hunter Salinas
Crabb Hupp Seaman
Craddick Isett Shields
Crownover Janek Smith
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Davis of Harris Jones of Bexar Solis
Davis of Dallas Jones of Dallas Solomons
Delisi Junell Swinford
Denny Keel Talton
Deshotel Keffer Telford
Driver King of Parker Thompson
Dukes King of Uvalde Tillery
Dunnam Kitchen Truitt
Dutton Kolkhorst Turner of Coleman
Edwards Krusee Turner of Harris
Ehrhardt Kuempel Uher
Eiland Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Elkins Lewis of Orange Villarreal
Ellis Longoria Walker
Farabee Luna West
Farrar McCall Williams
Flores McClendon Wilson
Gallego McReynolds Wise
Garcia Madden Wohlgemuth
George Marchant Wolens
Geren Martinez Fischer Woolley
Giddings Maxey Yarbrough
Glaze Menendez Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 496 was adopted by the House on March
12, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House