1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 428 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-4 recognize Prairie View A&M University on the grand occasion of 1-5 its 125th anniversary; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The first state-supported college in Texas for 1-7 African Americans, Prairie View A&M University was established 1-8 by the 15th Legislature on August 14, 1876, as Alta Vista 1-9 Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youth; 1-10 on March 11, 1878, eight young men became the college's first 1-11 students; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The school underwent several name changes over 1-13 the years: in 1889, the 26th Legislature changed the name 1-14 to Prairie View State Normal & Industrial College; in 1945, 1-15 the name was changed to Prairie View University by the 1-16 49th Legislature; and in 1973, the 63rd Legislature changed 1-17 the name to Prairie View A&M University; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The Prairie View A&M University campus is 1-19 comprised of slightly more than 1,400 acres; the land was 1-20 the former Alta Vista Plantation and was purchased during the 1-21 1870s by the board of directors from Mrs. Helen Marr Kirby, 1-22 the widow of Colonel Jared Ellison Kirby; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Today, the major feeder high schools for 2-2 Prairie View A&M University are located in the Houston, 2-3 Dallas-Fort Worth, and Waller-Hempstead areas; the 2-4 enrollment has increased to approximately 6,600 students, 2-5 and the institution's budget is over $90 million; since 1985, 2-6 over $140 million has been invested in the university's 2-7 infrastructure; and 2-8 WHEREAS, The university is fortunate to have exceptionally 2-9 fine executive officers and faculty members; Dr. Charles A. Hines 2-10 joined the university in 1994 as its president, and his excellent 2-11 leadership has moved the institution further into the academic 2-12 mainstream; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The students are now benefitting from a new 2-14 privatized housing program, a new science building, and a 2-15 student park and community center; the university's endowed 2-16 funds and reserve funds are the highest in recent years, and the 2-17 state-authorized School of Juvenile Justice now offers the first 2-18 master's degree program in the nation in juvenile justice and a 2-19 doctorate degree in juvenile justice, the first doctorate degree 2-20 offering in the history of the university; and 2-21 WHEREAS, The faculty, administration, and members of the 2-22 board of trustees of Prairie View A&M University are committed to 2-23 providing the students of our state with a first-rate education, 2-24 and their success is evident in the excellent reputation the 3-1 university enjoys today; now, therefore, be it 3-2 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-3 77th Legislature, hereby express congratulations to 3-4 Prairie View A&M University on the occasion of its 125th 3-5 anniversary and extend appreciation to the university for 3-6 its many contributions to higher education in our state; 3-7 and, be it further 3-8 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-9 Prairie View A&M University as an expression of esteem from the 3-10 Texas Senate. 3-11 Ogden 3-12 ______________________________________ 3-13 President of the Senate 3-14 I hereby certify that the above 3-15 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-16 on March 12, 2001. 3-17 ______________________________________ 3-18 Secretary of the Senate 3-19 ______________________________________ 3-20 Member, Texas Senate