1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 950 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to 1-4 recognize Paul Baker for his lifetime of superb contributions 1-5 to education, the arts, and especially Baylor University; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Baylor University is celebrating 100 years of 1-7 theatre beginning on June 15, 2001, and the university will 1-8 honor Mr. Baker for his guidance in the development of the 1-9 internationally recognized Baylor Theatre Department; and 1-10 WHEREAS, In 1901, a Dramatic Club for Baylor University 1-11 students was formed; they began presenting intermittent 1-12 theatrical performances in 1902; and 1-13 WHEREAS, The Little Theatre Club was founded at Baylor in 1-14 1925 under the auspices of Miss Sara Lowrey; the new organization 1-15 gave performances in different buildings on the campus; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Paul Baker, a Yale University graduate, came to 1-17 Baylor University in 1933 to begin building a theatre department; 1-18 he sought ways to awaken and inspire the creativity of all 1-19 students; and 1-20 WHEREAS, His idea was that the elements of theatre arts 1-21 can be powerful stimuli for all forms of creative thinking; 2-1 these thought processes can apply to everything from the arts to 2-2 philosophy to business; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Having reached many people with these ideas, 2-4 Mr. Baker affected every student on campus with his message, 2-5 because each student had to take his course, 106, Integration 2-6 of Abilities; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Paul Baker was involved in the Baylor Children's 2-8 Theatre, where he sought to teach each child how to unlock his 2-9 own unique working and thinking abilities; the ideas nurtured 2-10 and supported each child; the Creative Art Center of Waco is 2-11 founded on the teachings of Mr. Baker; and 2-12 WHEREAS, From 1934 to 1963, Mr. Baker worked at Baylor, 2-13 diligently building a theatre department there; his concept of 2-14 theatre attracted a faculty of worldwide stature, and they built 2-15 a theatre of universal prominence; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Paul Baker and his faculty transferred their ideas 2-17 to Trinity University in San Antonio in the fall of 1963; he 2-18 and his staff expanded all aspects of his ideas, and Mr. Baker 2-19 semi-retired to his ranch in Waelder; however, he was still 2-20 vitally interested in the education of children, and he and his 2-21 wife, Kitty Baker, began to work with the children in the Waelder 2-22 school district; and 2-23 WHEREAS, After one year of working with Mr. Baker's concepts, 3-1 every student tested beyond their grade level; those who could 3-2 hardly write a sentence before could now write compound sentences 3-3 and compositions; a video was made about the Waelder project, and 3-4 Mr. Baker based his book, Making Sense of the Five Senses, on 3-5 this experience; and 3-6 WHEREAS, Now near his 90th birthday, Paul Baker is 3-7 returning to Baylor University Campus to celebrate the time when 3-8 his innumerable contributions to the Baylor Theatre Department 3-9 brought it international attention; now, therefore, be it 3-10 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-11 77th Legislature, hereby commend and applaud the lifework of 3-12 Paul Baker and congratulate him on his special gifts; and, be 3-13 it further 3-14 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-15 Paul Baker as an expression of the highest regard of the 3-16 Texas Senate. 3-17 Sibley 3-18 ______________________________________ 3-19 President of the Senate 3-20 I hereby certify that the above 3-21 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-22 on May 7, 2001. 3-23 ______________________________________ 3-24 Secretary of the Senate 3-25 ______________________________________ 3-26 Member, Texas Senate