79R14080 MAM-D

By:  Flynn                                                        H.R. No. 1392



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Sand Flat and Richland Schools of Rains County 
are an essential part of African American history in the State of 
Texas, and a reunion of former students, teachers, parents, and 
friends on May 7, 2005, provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on 
the schools' storied past; and
	WHEREAS, Between 1915 and 1932, the Rosenwald Fund and local 
African American communities built more than 500 schools across 
Texas to educate young people before desegregation; today, fewer 
than 30 schools still remain intact, and the Sand Flat School is one 
of those stalwart survivors; and
	WHEREAS, The Richland School, which was destroyed by a fire 
several years ago, and Sand Flat were the only public education 
facilities for African Americans in Rains County; the A. C. 
McMillan African American Museum in Emory has launched a remarkable 
effort to preserve and renovate the Sand Flat building and to secure 
a place for the school on the national registry of historic 
buildings; and
	WHEREAS, The Sand Flat and Richland Schools are monuments to 
the determined and spirited past of a community who fought for the 
right to educate its children, and it is a pleasure to recognize 
these important institutions on this special occasion; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby honor the Sand Flat and Richland Schools on the 
occasion of the 2005 reunion and extend to all those school 
supporters in attendance sincere best wishes for a memorable event.