By Williams                                            H.R. No. 496
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                 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
 2-1     $90 million; since 1985, over $140 million has been invested in the
 2-2     university's infrastructure; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, The university is fortunate to have exceptionally
 2-4     fine executive officers and faculty members; Dr. Charles A. Hines
 2-5     joined the university in 1994 as its president, and his excellent
 2-6     leadership has moved the institution further into the academic
 2-7     mainstream; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, The students are now benefitting from a new
 2-9     privatized housing program, a new science building, and a student
2-10     park and community center; the university's endowed funds and
2-11     reserve funds are the highest in recent years, and the
2-12     state-authorized School of Juvenile Justice now offers the first
2-13     master's degree program in the nation in juvenile justice and a
2-14     doctorate degree in juvenile justice, the first doctorate degree
2-15     offering in the history of the university; and
2-16           WHEREAS, The faculty, administration, and members of the
2-17     board of trustees of Prairie View A&M University are committed to
2-18     providing the students of our state with a first-rate education,
2-19     and their success is evident in the excellent reputation the
2-20     university enjoys today; now, therefore, be it
2-21           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of
2-22     Texas, 77th Legislature, hereby express congratulations to Prairie
2-23     View A&M University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary and
2-24     extend appreciation to the university for its many contributions to
2-25     higher education in our state; and, be it further
2-26           RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for
 3-1     Prairie View A&M University as an expression of esteem from the
 3-2     Texas House of Representatives.